Compare towns
Everett vs Acton vs Dover
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 kids (23.2% under 18).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1308k median).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
24,155 |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.5±0.8 11% above MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Dover and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Acton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$807,300±$20k 44% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,986±$155Lowest 13% 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 | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4% MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
35 minLowest 19% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Acton 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Acton-Boxborough | — |
| High school in town | Everett High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
— |
| 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.