Compare towns
Chester vs Everett vs Fall River vs Russell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Russell has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Chester | Everett | Fall River | Russell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,240 |
50,045 |
94,082Highest |
1,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
-7.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.7 15% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
47.7±7.6Highest 19% above MA |
| Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
10.4%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.9 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
4%±4.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $89,390±$6k 14% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$108,750±$24kHighest 5% above MA |
| Russell and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$303,300±$32k 46% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,104±$71 37% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,013±$330Lowest 43% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,522 25% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,104Highest 15% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
25.6%±20.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Everett and Russell 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 | — | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Gateway | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.