Compare towns
Everett vs Methuen vs Windham vs Boston
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
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 | Methuen | Windham | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
53,475 |
16,038Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9Highest 6% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Windham and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Windham 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Boston and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Windham 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham and Boston 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Methuen | Windham School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Methuen High | Windham High School | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.1 |
12.8 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.