Compare towns
Everett vs Exeter vs Worcester vs Medford
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 most homeowners (69.1%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Medford has the most people working from home (26.8%).
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 | Worcester | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
16,151Lowest |
207,055Highest |
59,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.9±1 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Medford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,286 102% 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% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #266 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Medford |
| High school in town | Everett High | Exeter High School | South High Community | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.1 |
14.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.