Compare towns
Chelsea vs Everett vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Chelsea | Everett | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908Lowest |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96 11% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 23 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945Highest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Chelsea 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 | #280 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Everett High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.