Compare towns

Everett vs Mansfield vs Needham

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%).
Mansfield has the most affordable homes ($604k 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.

MeasureEverettMansfieldNeedham
People
Population
50,045Highest
23,931Lowest
32,459
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+11.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
41.4±1.3
4% above MA
43.1±1.6Highest
8% above MA
Needham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
27.5%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Needham and Mansfield 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%
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
81.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±1.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Everett and Mansfield 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
18% below MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
$214,308±$13kHighest
106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$603,500±$28kLowest
7% above MA
$1,188,500±$43kHighest
111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
$1,803±$147Lowest
about the MA average
$2,409±$183Highest
37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880Lowest
19% below MA
$7,226
21% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.9%±8.5
MA: 51.8%
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
MA: 10%
4.7%
MA: 10%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
83.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
28 minLowest
5% below MA
Work from home
10.5%±2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
32.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA #19 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Mansfield Needham
High school in town Everett High Mansfield High Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.1Lowest
11.9
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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.