Compare towns
Everett vs Worcester vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Dover has the most people working from home (37.4%).
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 | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
207,055Highest |
2,308Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
47.5±4Highest 19% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±4.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dover and Worcester 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 MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
83.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.4%±4.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Dover 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 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$1,308,300±$149kHighest 133% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dover and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
3.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
37.4%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #1 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — |
| High school in town | Everett High | South High Community | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.