What stands out worked out from the figures below

Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

Sterling has the most homeowners (86.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Everett	Sterling
People
Population	50,045Highest	8,183Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA	51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA
Kids under 18	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	18.6%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Sterling 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%	22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	48.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%	4.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA	$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA	$498,800±$48kLowest 11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA	$1,699±$161Lowest 4% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA	$6,757Highest 13% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%	46%±23.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Sterling 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%	6%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.3%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 20% above MA	34 minLowest 18% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Sterling and Everett 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	#135 of 282 in MA
School district	Everett	Wachusett
High school in town	Everett High	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.