Compare towns
Everett vs Needham vs Worcester vs Boston
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%).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Boston has the most renters (64.3% 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.
| Measure | Everett | Needham | Worcester | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
32,459Lowest |
207,055 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | — | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | — | South High Community | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.6 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.