Compare towns
Everett vs Exeter vs Acton
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).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
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 | Exeter | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
16,151Lowest |
24,155 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Acton 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Exeter 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 6% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
| Everett and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 min 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | Everett High | Exeter High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.