Compare towns
Everett vs Petersham vs Ware 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%).
Petersham has the oldest population (median age 56.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
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 | Petersham | Ware | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
1,185Lowest |
10,048 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Ware 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% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
42.6% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Petersham and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.2%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 |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Boston and Petersham 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 | — | #267 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Petersham | Ware | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.1Lowest |
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.