Compare towns
Everett vs Woonsocket vs Boston vs Lowell
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).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Lowell has the most homeowners (43.2%).
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 | Boston | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
43,521Lowest |
666,442Highest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3Highest 8% below U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Lowell 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% |
23.3%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woonsocket and Boston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$61,059±$5kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$97,344±$2kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$311,000±$15kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,161±$48Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,147±$25Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% 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 | $4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,960Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,456 43% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% 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% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Highest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI | #258 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | Woonsocket High School | Boston Latin School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
15.2 |
18.7Highest |
14.8 |
| 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.