Compare towns
Everett vs Woonsocket vs Acton 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%).
Woonsocket has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Acton has the most homeowners (74.9%).
Boston has the youngest population (median age 33.3).
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 | Woonsocket | Acton | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
43,521 |
24,155Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest 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% |
13%±0.3 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% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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. |
$97,344±$2k 21% 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. |
$731,700±$10k 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$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. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,456 43% 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% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest 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. |
1947 33 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. |
30 min 15% 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% |
21.3%±0.5 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 | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Acton-Boxborough | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | Woonsocket High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
15.2 |
13.5 |
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.