What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has the most homeowners (37.2%).

Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).

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	Chelsea
People
Population	50,045Highest	39,908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+15.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Highest 12% below MA	34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA
	Everett and Chelsea 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%	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	11.3%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA	$72,179±$8kLowest 31% below MA
	Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$493,500±$24kLowest 12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$1,956±$96Lowest 11% above MA
	Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Highest 19% below MA	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest MA: 10%	20.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1941Highest 23 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	33 minLowest 13% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Everett and Chelsea 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	#280 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Chelsea
High school in town	Everett High	Chelsea High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.