What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

Brookline has the most people working from home (30.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Everett	Brookline
People
Population	50,045Lowest	63,266Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5 12% below MA	35.2±1.2 12% below MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Brookline 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%	15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	85.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA	$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA	$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Brookline 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%	8.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	46.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 26 yrs older than MA	1938 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	27 minLowest 7% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#264 of 282 in MA	#22 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	—
High school in town	Everett High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.