Compare towns
Everett vs North Adams vs Lowell
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%).
North Adams has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | North Adams | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
12,606Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
44.1±3.5Highest 10% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.6%±2.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.4% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.8%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| North Adams and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$47,500±$7kLowest 54% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$195,900±$14kLowest 65% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$793±$113Lowest 55% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,078Lowest 49% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
63.7%±11Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
51%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
17 minLowest 40% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell and Everett 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 | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | North Adams · Northern Berkshire Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | Charles McCann Vocational Technical | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.6Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.