Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Hanson
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 most people working from home (21.3%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hanson has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Hanson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045 |
10,660Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
42.8±3Highest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±3.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Hanson 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% |
19.7%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$132,200±$10kHighest 27% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$533,900±$36kLowest 5% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,821±$860Lowest 3% above MA |
| 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 26% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,402Highest 7% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
69%±33.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hanson and Everett 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
89%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #149 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | Whitman Hanson Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
14.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.