Compare towns
Everett vs Exeter vs Needham vs Lowell
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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 | Exeter | Needham | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
16,151Lowest |
32,459 |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% 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% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | Exeter High School | Needham High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.