Compare towns
Everett vs Middlesex vs Worcester vs Medford
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 homeowners (96.7%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Medford has the most expensive homes ($756k 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.
| Measure | Everett | Middlesex | Worcester | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
1,943Lowest |
207,055Highest |
59,354 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.9±1 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Medford and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$6,286 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Medford 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 | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Medford |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | South High Community | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 14.6Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| 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.