Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Buzzards Bay vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Buzzards Bay has the most homeowners (75.7%).
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 | Fall River | Buzzards Bay | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082 |
2,909Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell 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% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Lowell and Buzzards Bay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$454,500±$28k 19% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,484±$601 16% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Buzzards Bay and Lowell 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | — | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | — | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| 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.