Compare towns

Everett vs Milton vs Chelsea

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%).
Milton has the most people working from home (29.7%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).

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.

MeasureEverettMiltonChelsea
People
Population
50,045Highest
28,587Lowest
39,908
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+15.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5
12% below MA
41.1±1.8Highest
about the MA average
34.4±1.3Lowest
14% below MA
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25.3%±2.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
24.4%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
Milton and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.3%±1.1
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±1.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
10.5%±1.3Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
71.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.2%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$188,529±$15kHighest
81% above MA
$72,179±$8kLowest
31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$933,200±$31kHighest
66% above MA
$493,500±$24kLowest
12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,474±$281Lowest
16% below MA
$1,956±$96
11% above MA
Everett and Chelsea 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
$9,677Highest
61% above MA
$3,321Lowest
45% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
45.7%±20.9Lowest
MA: 51.8%
59.4%±5.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
14.7%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
20.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
85.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
26%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1945Highest
19 yrs older than MA
1941
23 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
20% above MA
31 minLowest
8% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
29.7%±2.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.4%±2.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA #280 of 282 in MA
School district Everett — Chelsea
High school in town Everett High — Chelsea High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.