Compare towns
Everett vs Salem vs New Bedford
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%).
Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k 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.
| Measure | Everett | Salem | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
44,795Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Salem and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| New Bedford and Everett 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% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Salem and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Everett 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 |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Everett and Salem 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$4,338Lowest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
12.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938 26 yrs older than MA |
1938 26 yrs older than MA |
1938 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Salem | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Everett High | Salem High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.