Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Gardner vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
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 | Everett | Gardner | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045 |
21,148Lowest |
63,266 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA |
$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456 26% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,150Lowest 31% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
13.7% MA: 10% |
8.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #273 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Gardner | — |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | Gardner High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.