Compare towns
Everett vs Williston vs Dorset vs Boston
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%).
Williston has the most affordable homes ($476k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k 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 | Williston | Dorset | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
10,144 |
2,092Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
| 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 56% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$7,489Highest 140% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | — | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | None in town | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 18.7Highest |
| 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.