What stands out worked out from the figures below

Charlton has the most homeowners (84.9%).

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Charlton	Everett
People
Population	13,435Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43±4Highest 8% above MA	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	24.7%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Charlton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.6%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.8%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Charlton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$117,587±$8kHighest 13% above MA	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$427,500±$19kLowest 24% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,381±$415Lowest 22% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,617Lowest 23% below MA	$4,880Highest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.3%±9.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	2.5%Lowest MA: 10%	14.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	84.9%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 21 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minLowest 13% above MA	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	13%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Charlton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#133 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric	Everett
High school in town	Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.7Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.