Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Townsend and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.