Compare towns
Everett vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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.
| Measure | Everett | Hooksett | Needham | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
15,057Lowest |
32,459 |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
35.8±1 8% below U.S. |
| Needham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±1.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham and Hooksett 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Malden and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,606±$6k 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$633,500±$26k 90% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,204±$62 56% above U.S. |
| Needham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,995 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±4.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
34 min 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Hooksett School District | Needham | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Needham High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.9Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.