Compare towns
Everett vs Hull 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%).
Hull has the most homeowners (79.6%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k 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 | Hull | Worcester | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
10,138Lowest |
207,055 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
56.1±1.8Highest 40% 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% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
26.1%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.4% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest 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 |
$115,485±$14kHighest 11% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$646,000±$38k 15% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,081±$187 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Hull 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 |
$6,089Highest about the MA average |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±14 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%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 |
1946 18 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
33 min 14% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston and Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | South High Community | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.6 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.