Compare towns
Everett vs Danvers vs Needham vs Medford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Danvers has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
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 | Danvers | Needham | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
28,098Lowest |
32,459 |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
35.9±1 10% below MA |
| Danvers and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,076±$192Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Medford and Needham 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,286 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Needham 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Needham | Medford |
| High school in town | Everett High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Needham High | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
11.9 |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.