Compare towns
Everett vs Upton vs Bow vs Chelsea
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%).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Bow has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Upton | Bow | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
8,189Lowest |
8,335 |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
34.4±1.3Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Upton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Chelsea 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Bow 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 6% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$72,179±$8kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Bow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$493,500±$24kLowest 48% above U.S. |
| Everett and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,956±$96 38% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$8,376 169% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,321Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Bow 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Bow School District | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | Blackstone Valley | Bow High School | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.