Compare towns
Everett vs Nelson 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%).
Nelson has the most homeowners (90.2%).
Medford has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | Nelson | Medford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
648Lowest |
59,354Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
42.3±11.7Highest 9% above U.S. |
35.9±1 8% below U.S. |
| Nelson and Medford 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Everett 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23k 24% above U.S. |
$129,540±$8kHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Medford and Nelson 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$755,500±$23kHighest 127% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$2,509±$94Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 56% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,286Highest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±4.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
54.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1942 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.8%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | #203 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Nelson School District | Medford |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Medford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.