Compare towns
Everett vs Quincy vs Waltham
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%).
Quincy has the oldest population (median age 38.6).
Waltham has the shortest commute (25 min average).
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 | Quincy | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Lowest |
102,114Highest |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
38.6±0.8Highest 4% below MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Quincy and Waltham 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$618,500±$14k 10% above MA |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,118±$59 20% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$6,381Highest 6% above MA |
$4,766Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±3.5 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
45.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Waltham and Quincy 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 | #147 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Quincy | Waltham |
| High school in town | Everett High | North Quincy High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
15.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.