Compare towns
Everett vs Fall River vs Worcester 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 the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Worcester has the most homeowners (42.8%).
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 | Worcester | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
94,082 |
207,055Highest |
39,908Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Everett 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%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea 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±$11k 30% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,956±$96 11% above MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$4,733 21% below 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% |
54.2%±2.9 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%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 |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | B M C Durfee High | South High Community | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
14.6Highest |
13.1 |
| 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.