Compare towns
Everett vs Ware vs Ludlow vs Malden
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k median).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Malden has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Ware | Ludlow | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
10,048Lowest |
20,904 |
65,906Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Ludlow and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Ware 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% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Everett 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 |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,918 18% below MA |
$4,995Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Everett 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% |
11.8% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
77.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ware | Ludlow | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Ludlow Senior High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.1Lowest |
11.1Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| 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.