Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Townsend vs Westport
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).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Westport has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Townsend | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082Highest |
9,100Lowest |
16,484 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
50.7±1.8Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westport and Everett 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 |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$96,000±$9k 8% below MA |
| Townsend and Westport 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±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$521,900±$38k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,425±$356 19% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$3,719Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±19.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Westport 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% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
82.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1972 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #195 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | North Middlesex | Westport |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | North Middlesex Regional | Westport Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.