Compare towns
Everett vs Hardwick vs Lowell vs Fall River
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%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Hardwick | Lowell | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
2,684Lowest |
118,368Highest |
94,082 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Hardwick 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%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell 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% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Everett and Lowell 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 |
$346,700±$67kLowest 38% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick 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% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Quabbin | Lowell | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Lowell High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 14.8Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.