Compare towns
Everett vs Ayer vs Malden
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%).
Ayer has the most homeowners (58.1%).
Malden has the highest household income ($101k).
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 | Ayer | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
3,098Lowest |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Ayer and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Ayer 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% |
15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Malden 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% |
37.7% MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$74,878±$17kLowest 28% below MA |
$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$444,600±$43kLowest 21% below MA |
$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,240±$169Lowest 30% below MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Everett 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 |
$4,911 18% below MA |
$4,995Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Malden 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% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 16.1Highest |
| 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.