Compare towns
Everett vs Wales vs Lowell
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%).
Wales has the most homeowners (89.4%).
Lowell has the shortest commute (28 min average).
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 | Wales | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
1,929Lowest |
118,368Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.3±4.7Highest 6% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
23.1%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Wales and Everett 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% |
19.2%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$89,006±$6kHighest 14% below MA |
$78,658±$4kLowest 24% below MA |
| Wales and Everett 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 |
$296,200±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,104±$242Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,534 24% below MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
58%±20.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Wales 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% |
5.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
28 minLowest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.6%±5.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Wales and Lowell 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Wales | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.