Compare towns
Everett vs Smithfield vs Boston vs Lowell
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%).
Smithfield has the most homeowners (81.6%).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Lowell has the most affordable homes ($429k 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 | Smithfield | Boston | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
22,233Lowest |
666,442Highest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
41.8±2.6Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Smithfield 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 83% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12k 34% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 56% above U.S. |
$5,207Highest 67% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield and Everett 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% |
6.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #258 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Smithfield | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | Smithfield High School | Boston Latin School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.8Lowest |
18.7Highest |
14.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.