Compare towns

Boston vs Everett vs Woonsocket

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 most people working from home (21.3%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k 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.

MeasureBostonEverettWoonsocket
People
Population
666,442Highest
50,045
43,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.3±0.2Lowest
14% below U.S.
35.2±1.5
10% below U.S.
35.7±1.3Highest
8% below U.S.
Woonsocket and Everett 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%
21.8%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket 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%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Woonsocket and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
15%±0.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,344±$2kHighest
21% above U.S.
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$731,700±$10kHighest
120% above U.S.
$610,000±$23k
83% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,147±$25Highest
52% above U.S.
$2,076±$69
47% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below 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
$4,456
43% above U.S.
$4,880Highest
56% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±1.2
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1947
33 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1952Highest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
15% above U.S.
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
Work from home
21.3%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #258 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI
School district Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston Everett RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket
High school in town Boston Latin School Everett High Woonsocket High School
Students per teacherat that high school
18.7Highest
12.1Lowest
15.2
On TownTapestry
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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.