Compare towns

Everett vs Fall River vs Salem

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%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).

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 RiverSalem
People
Population
50,045
94,082Highest
30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
44.6±2.7Highest
15% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Everett and Fall River 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%
16.1%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Salem 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$110,490±$9kHighest
37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$395,500±$11kLowest
19% above U.S.
$473,300±$16k
42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,155±$27Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880
56% above U.S.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 min
10% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #38 of 120 in NH
School district Everett Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Salem School District
High school in town Everett High B M C Durfee High Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.3
11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.