What stands out worked out from the figures below

Cheshire has the most homeowners (89%).

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	Cheshire	Everett
People
Population	3,216Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	53.7±4.5Highest 34% above MA	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	15.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	30.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,803±$14kLowest 33% below MA	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA
	Everett and Cheshire are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,200±$48kLowest 52% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$2,076±$69 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,005Lowest 50% below MA	$4,880Highest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	21.2%±24Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line	8.6%Lowest MA: 10%	14.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Highest same as MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest about the MA average	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	4.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#274 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Hoosac Valley Regional	Everett
High school in town	Hoosac Valley High School	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	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.