Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Needham vs Chelsea
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).
Needham has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Needham | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082Highest |
32,459Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Needham and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,956±$96 11% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Everett 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% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Needham | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | Needham High | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
11.9 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.