Compare towns
Everett vs Brookline vs Ripton vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Brookline | Ripton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
531 |
508Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Ripton and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Brookline 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ripton and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Ripton 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 83% above U.S. |
$290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,732±$232Lowest 23% above U.S. |
— | $2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$5,000Highest 60% above U.S. |
$4,915 58% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boston and Brookline 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 | — | — | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | None in town | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.