Compare towns
Fall River vs Dedham vs Everett vs Westport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Westport has the oldest population (median age 50.7).
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 | Fall River | Dedham | Everett | Westport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
25,237 |
50,045 |
16,484Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
50.7±1.8Highest 27% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Westport and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
29.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Westport and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$96,000±$9k 8% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$521,900±$38k 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,425±$356 19% below MA |
| Everett and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953 34% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,719Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.9%±19.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
82.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±2.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #195 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Dedham | Everett | Westport |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Dedham High | Everett High | Westport Middle-High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.5 |
| 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.