Compare towns
Chelsea vs Everett vs Windham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Windham has the most homeowners (93.9%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908 |
50,045Highest |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 12% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$8kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96Lowest 38% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #280 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chelsea | Everett | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Everett High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.