Compare towns
Everett vs Lowell vs Middlesex vs Fall River
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Lowell | Middlesex | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
118,368Highest |
1,943Lowest |
94,082 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
| Middlesex 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11k 19% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | — | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Lowell | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Everett High | Lowell High | None in town | 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 |
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.