Compare towns
Everett vs Williamstown vs Boston
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%).
Williamstown has the most homeowners (73.8%).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
9,150Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
37.5±6.9Highest 6% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Williamstown and Everett 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% |
15.5%±3.4 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
70.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
54.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
28.9%±2.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$106,650±$25kHighest about the MA average |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Williamstown and Boston 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 |
$437,100±$39kLowest 22% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,584±$292Lowest 10% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
| Boston 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 |
$5,290Highest 12% below MA |
$4,456Lowest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.9%±15.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
11.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1959Highest 5 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
16 minLowest 45% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
27.3%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Williamstown and Boston 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 | #45 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Mount Greylock | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Mt Greylock Regional High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.4Lowest |
18.7Highest |
| 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.