Compare towns

Everett vs Fall River vs Marblehead vs Malden

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).
Marblehead has the most homeowners (85.2%).

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.

MeasureEverettFall RiverMarbleheadMalden
People
Population
50,045
94,082Highest
20,413Lowest
65,906
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+3.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
49.1±2Highest
23% above MA
35.8±1
11% below MA
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
22.3%±2.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Marblehead 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%
22.7%±2.5Highest
MA: 17.9%
13%±1.2
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
78.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
45.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$182,132±$28kHighest
75% above MA
$100,606±$6k
3% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$943,900±$31kHighest
68% above MA
$633,500±$26k
13% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,764±$147
about the MA average
$2,204±$62Highest
25% above MA
Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880
19% below MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$8,309Highest
39% above MA
$4,995
17% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
49.5%±8.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
51.2%±4.6
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%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
41.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1945
19 yrs older than MA
1944
20 yrs older than MA
1950Highest
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
33 min
13% above MA
34 min
18% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
34%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±2.3
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #47 of 282 in MA #184 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Marblehead Malden
High school in town Everett High B M C Durfee High Marblehead High Malden High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
11.3
10.7Lowest
16.1Highest
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.