Compare towns
Everett vs Acton vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Everett | Acton | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
24,155Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 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 | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$72,179±$8kLowest 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$493,500±$24kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,986±$155 13% above MA |
$1,956±$96Lowest 11% above MA |
| Everett and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1Highest 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 | 14.7% MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
33 minLowest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Acton-Boxborough | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.