Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Stow vs Boston
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).
Stow has the most homeowners (85.4%).
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
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 | Stow | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082 |
7,165Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Stow and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Stow 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Boston and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Nashoba | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | None in town | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| 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.