Compare towns

Everett vs Woonsocket vs Acton

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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).

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.

MeasureEverettWoonsocketActon
People
Population
50,045Highest
43,521
24,155Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
35.7±1.3
8% below U.S.
44.5±0.8Highest
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2Highest
U.S.: 22%
23.2%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
Woonsocket and Acton 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%
14.7%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
17.6%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Acton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
79.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Everett and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$158,230±$14kHighest
96% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23k
83% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$807,300±$20kHighest
143% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
47% above U.S.
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,986±$155
41% above U.S.
Everett and Acton 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.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
47.7%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Everett and Acton 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%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
74.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
1974Highest
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
33% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
35 min
31% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
35.9%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #13 of 282 in MA
School district Everett RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Acton-Boxborough
High school in town Everett High Woonsocket High School Acton-Boxborough Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
15.2Highest
13.5
On TownTapestry
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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.