Compare towns
Everett vs Easthampton vs Lancaster vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Easthampton has the most affordable homes ($372k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
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 | Easthampton | Lancaster | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
16,086 |
8,606Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Easthampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lancaster 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% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Lancaster 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% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$371,500±$15kLowest 34% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Lancaster and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
22 minLowest 23% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Easthampton | Nashoba | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Easthampton High | None in town | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| 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.