Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Chester
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Chester has the most homeowners (82.5%).
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 | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082Highest |
1,240Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
45.9±3.7Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±8.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chester 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 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.5%±1.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chester and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$89,390±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
| Chester 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±$11k 30% below MA |
$281,900±$14kLowest 50% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,104±$71Lowest 37% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,522 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.1%±22.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Chester 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% |
1.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
7%±2.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Gateway |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.