Compare towns
Everett vs Rye vs Boston vs Somerville
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%).
Rye has the most homeowners (85.5%).
Somerville has the youngest population (median age 31.9).
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 | Rye | Boston | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
5,611Lowest |
666,442Highest |
81,036 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2 14% below U.S. |
31.9±0.6Lowest 18% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
10%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
12.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
$132,572±$6k 64% above U.S. |
| Rye and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kLowest 83% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
$911,300±$26k 174% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$2,147±$25 52% above U.S. |
$2,517±$64Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$7,519Highest 141% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,186 98% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.3%±2.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Somerville and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #258 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Rye School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Somerville |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Boston Latin School | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 18.7Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.