Compare towns
Everett vs Worcester vs Marblehead vs Lowell
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).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
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 | Marblehead | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
207,055Highest |
20,413Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
78.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$182,132±$28kHighest 75% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$1,764±$147 about the MA average |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$8,309Highest 39% above MA |
$4,499Lowest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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% |
4.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
85.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1944 20 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #47 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Marblehead | Lowell |
| High school in town | Everett High | South High Community | Marblehead High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
14.6 |
10.7Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.