Compare towns
Everett vs Brookfield vs Sutton vs Medford
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%).
Brookfield has the most affordable homes ($342k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Medford has the most expensive homes ($756k 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 | Brookfield | Sutton | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
3,460Lowest |
9,452 |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
35.9±1 10% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Sutton 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% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
59.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$81,250±$37kLowest 22% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
| Sutton and Medford 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 |
$341,900±$23kLowest 39% below MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$755,500±$23kHighest 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$5,092 15% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,286 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Brookfield 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Medford and Sutton 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Brookfield | Sutton | Medford |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Sutton High School | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 12.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.