Compare towns
Boston vs Derry vs Everett vs Milton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Milton has the highest household income ($189k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Boston | Derry | Everett | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
34,116 |
50,045 |
28,587Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
41.1±1.8Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
71.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$188,529±$15kHighest 134% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$933,200±$31kHighest 180% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,474±$281Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$9,677Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±20.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH | #264 of 282 in MA | #55 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Everett | Milton |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Pinkerton Academy | Everett High | Milton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
13.9 |
12.1Lowest |
12.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.