Compare towns
Everett vs Needham vs Methuen 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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1938).
Needham has the highest household income ($214k).
Methuen has the most affordable homes ($500k median).
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 | Needham | Methuen | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
32,459Lowest |
53,475 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% 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 |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Needham 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 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 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% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and Methuen 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 MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31% 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% |
6.7%±1 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$113,310±$7k 9% above MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$499,700±$17kLowest 11% below MA |
$731,700±$10k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,749±$91Lowest about the MA average |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,061 16% 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% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Needham | Methuen | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Needham High | Methuen High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.9Lowest |
13.1 |
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.