Compare towns
Everett vs Upton vs Medford vs Somerville
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%).
Upton has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Medford has the shortest commute (30 min average).
Somerville has the most expensive homes ($911k 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 | Upton | Medford | Somerville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
8,189Lowest |
59,354 |
81,036Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.2% MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
35.9±1 10% below MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
59.8% MA: 47.3% |
69.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Somerville and Medford 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 |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
$132,572±$6k 28% above MA |
| Upton and Somerville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$576,700±$41kLowest about the MA average |
$755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
$911,300±$26kHighest 62% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,509±$94 42% above MA |
$2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
| Somerville and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$6,286 5% above MA |
$6,186 3% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
41.1%±4.9 MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.6% MA: 10% |
9.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
54.1% MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1942 22 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerville and Medford 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 | #203 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Medford | Somerville |
| High school in town | Everett High | Blackstone Valley | Medford High | Somerville High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.2 |
9.2Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.