What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chelmsford has the most homeowners (82.1%).

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	Chelmsford
People
Population	50,045Highest	36,446Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA	41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Chelmsford 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%	18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Chelmsford 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	$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA
	Everett and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$2,062±$151Lowest 17% above MA
	Everett and Chelmsford 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	$8,047Highest 34% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Chelmsford 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%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	82.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	28 minLowest 4% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#264 of 282 in MA	#79 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Chelmsford
High school in town	Everett High	Chelmsford High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	14.0Highest
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.