Compare towns
Everett vs Sutton vs Townsend vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Sutton | Townsend | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
9,452 |
9,100Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend 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% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sutton and Townsend 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.5% MA: 47.3% |
22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$72,179±$8kLowest 31% below MA |
| Sutton and Townsend 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 |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA |
$493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,956±$96 11% above MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$6,031 about the MA average |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9% MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82% MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Sutton | North Middlesex | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | Sutton High School | North Middlesex Regional | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.6 |
13.1Highest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.