Compare towns
Everett vs Ayer vs Fall River vs Boston
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 (69.2%).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k 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 | Ayer | Fall River | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
8,645Lowest |
94,082 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Fall River and Ayer 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% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest 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% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Fall River and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Ayer and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Everett 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 |
$5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Boston 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ayer Shirley School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | B M C Durfee High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.5 |
11.3Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.