What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Everett	North Adams
People
Population	50,045Highest	12,606Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA	44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	28.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA	$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Highest 19% below MA	$3,078Lowest 49% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8%
	North Adams and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest MA: 10%	18.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	51%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938 26 yrs older than MA	1938 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	17 minLowest 40% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Highest MA: 18.6%	9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Everett and North Adams 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	#268 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Everett High	Charles McCann Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	10.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.