Compare towns
Everett vs Mendon vs Boston vs Somerville
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%).
Mendon has the most homeowners (92.2%).
Somerville has the most people working from home (31.3%).
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 | Mendon | Boston | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
1,113Lowest |
666,442Highest |
81,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2 14% below U.S. |
31.9±0.6Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
10%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
12.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
$132,572±$6kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
$911,300±$26kHighest 174% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,230±$651Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
$2,517±$64Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$5,342 71% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,186Highest 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Everett 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Somerville and Mendon 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 | — | #258 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Somerville |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | Boston Latin School | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 18.7Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.