Compare towns

Everett vs Fall River vs Wellesley 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).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).

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 RiverWellesleyMalden
People
Population
50,045
94,082Highest
30,347Lowest
65,906
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+5.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
39.3±1.2Highest
about the MA average
37.1±2.2
7% below MA
35.8±1
11% below MA
Fall River and Wellesley 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%
24.1%±2Highest
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Wellesley 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%±0.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.5%±1.3
MA: 17.9%
13%±1.2
MA: 17.9%
Fall River and Wellesley 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%
89%Highest
MA: 47.3%
45.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
18.3%±0.7Highest
MA: 7.9%
9.1%±1.1
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$250,001Highest
140% above MA
$100,606±$6k
3% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$1,582,700±$49kHighest
182% above MA
$633,500±$26k
13% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$2,886±$360Highest
64% above MA
$2,204±$62
25% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880
19% below MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% 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%
44.1%±8.2Lowest
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%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.4%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
84.4%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
1955Highest
9 yrs older than MA
1950
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
27 min
7% below MA
34 min
18% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
32%±2.9Highest
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 #6 of 282 in MA #184 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical — Malden
High school in town Everett High B M C Durfee High — Malden High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
11.3Lowest
—
16.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.