Compare towns
Everett vs Worcester 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 homeowners (85.9%).
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 | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
831Lowest |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
33.3±0.2Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±0.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
15%±0.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$97,344±$2kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 83% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$731,700±$10kHighest 120% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below 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 | $4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$4,456 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±1.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Boston 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1947 33 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±0.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | — | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 18.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.