Compare towns
Everett vs Dover 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%).
Dover has the highest household income ($250k).
Medford has the shortest commute (30 min average).
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 | Dover | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
2,308Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+8.3% MA: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
35.9±1 10% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Dover 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% |
15.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Medford 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% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
59.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Medford and Dover 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 |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
$755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
— | $2,509±$94Highest 42% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,286 5% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Everett 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% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Dover and Medford 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Medford |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.