Compare towns

Everett vs Alstead vs Medford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Medford has the most people working from home (26.8%).

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.

MeasureEverettAlsteadMedford
People
Population
50,045
1,551Lowest
59,354Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
56±3.3Highest
44% above U.S.
35.9±1
8% below U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.7%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
11.2%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$64,526±$11kLowest
20% below U.S.
$129,540±$8kHighest
60% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
83% above U.S.
$271,600±$37kLowest
18% below U.S.
$755,500±$23kHighest
127% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Lowest
47% above U.S.
—
$2,509±$94Highest
78% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880Lowest
56% above U.S.
$5,322
71% above U.S.
$6,286Highest
102% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8
U.S.: 51.1%
72.1%±22.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.1%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Alstead 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
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
76%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
54.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1973Highest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1942
38 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
32 min
20% above U.S.
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
26.8%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA — #203 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Fall Mountain Regional School District Medford
High school in town Everett High None in town Medford High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
—
9.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.