Compare towns
Everett vs Methuen vs Fall River vs Malden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Malden has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Methuen | Fall River | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045Lowest |
53,475 |
94,082Highest |
65,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.9±1.7Highest about the MA average |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Methuen 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 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Methuen 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% MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
| Methuen and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Everett 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 |
$5,061Highest 16% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,995 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #236 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Methuen | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | Methuen High | B M C Durfee High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.1 |
11.3Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| 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.