Compare towns

Everett vs Canton vs Reading

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Canton has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).

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.

MeasureEverettCantonReading
People
Population
50,045Highest
24,748Lowest
25,612
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+13%
MA: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
42.6±2.3
7% above MA
43.7±2.3Highest
9% above MA
Reading and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.9%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.8%±2.2
MA: 19.4%
Canton and Reading 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%
18.8%±2
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Reading and Canton 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%
67.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
66.3%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.5%±1
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Everett and Canton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7kLowest
18% below MA
$143,381±$9k
38% above MA
$165,912±$13kHighest
60% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23kLowest
9% above MA
$710,600±$27k
26% above MA
$809,000±$22kHighest
44% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$2,315±$178Highest
31% above MA
$1,991±$273Lowest
13% above MA
Canton 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
$6,560
9% above MA
$9,320Highest
56% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±9.1
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Everett and Canton 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%
5.2%
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.6%
MA: 62.5%
82.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
20% above MA
36 minHighest
23% above MA
31 minLowest
6% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
25.7%±3.3
MA: 18.6%
30.2%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
Reading and Canton 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 #81 of 282 in MA #50 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton —
High school in town Everett High Canton High —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
13.1Highest
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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.