Compare towns
Everett vs Worcester vs Ware vs Chelsea
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
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 | Ware | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
207,055Highest |
10,048Lowest |
39,908 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,956±$96 11% above MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Chelsea 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% MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Worcester 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ware | Chelsea |
| High school in town | Everett High | South High Community | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Chelsea High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
14.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.