Compare towns
Everett vs Worcester vs Fall River vs Malden
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Fall River has the oldest population (median age 39.3).
Malden has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Fall River | Malden |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045Lowest |
207,055Highest |
94,082 |
65,906 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
35.8±1 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Fall River 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% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,995Highest 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
11.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
34 min 18% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #184 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Malden |
| High school in town | Everett High | South High Community | B M C Durfee High | Malden High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
14.6 |
11.3Lowest |
16.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.