Compare towns

Everett vs Ashby vs New Bedford

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%).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
New Bedford has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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.

MeasureEverettAshbyNew Bedford
People
Population
50,045
3,211Lowest
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
50.5±3Highest
26% above MA
37±0.8
8% below MA
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
17%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.9%±1.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
New Bedford 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%
21.5%±4.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
43.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
17%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±1.2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$115,598±$9kHighest
11% above MA
$56,981±$3kLowest
45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$390,500±$30k
31% below MA
$357,300±$6kLowest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,200±$484
32% below MA
$1,137±$26Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880
19% below MA
$6,034Highest
about the MA average
$4,338Lowest
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
36.4%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±3.2
MA: 51.8%
Everett and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%
MA: 10%
2.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
20.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
95.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
40.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
25 minLowest
15% below MA
Work from home
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
17.8%±5.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Ashby and Everett 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 #200 of 282 in MA #263 of 282 in MA
School district Everett North Middlesex New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Everett High None in town New Bedford 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.