Compare towns
Everett vs Worcester vs Bow 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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
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 | Worcester | Bow | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
207,055 |
8,335Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±0.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Boston and Worcester 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. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$97,344±$2k 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% 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. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,456Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Bow School District | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | South High Community | Bow High School | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.6 |
12.8 |
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.