Compare towns
Everett vs Dracut vs Windham vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Dracut has the most affordable homes ($474k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Dracut | Windham | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
32,574 |
16,038Lowest |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.7±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
35.8±1 8% below U.S. |
| Dracut and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dracut and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$100,606±$6k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$633,500±$26k 90% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Lowest 30% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,204±$62 56% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,995 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Malden 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Dracut | Windham School District | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | Dracut Senior High | Windham High School | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.9 |
12.8 |
16.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.