Compare towns
Everett vs Harvard vs Worcester 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%).
Harvard has the highest household income ($214k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% 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 | Harvard | Worcester | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
6,927Lowest |
207,055 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
44.1±4.7Highest 10% above MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Harvard 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% |
16.3%±2.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Harvard and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Worcester 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 |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard 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% |
4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Harvard | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | The Bromfield High School | South High Community | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.0Lowest |
14.6 |
18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.