Compare towns
Fall River vs Everett vs Ipswich vs New Bedford
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 renters (64.7% rent).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Ipswich has the most homeowners (74.4%).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | Fall River | Everett | Ipswich | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082 |
50,045 |
13,930Lowest |
100,998Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47.2±3.5Highest 18% above MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| New Bedford and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
60.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$138,750±$16kHighest 33% above MA |
$56,981±$3k 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$745,400±$40kHighest 33% above MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,598±$90 9% below MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,960Highest 33% above MA |
$4,338 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.5%±12.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
18.9%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #262 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #101 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Ipswich | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Everett High | Ipswich High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3 |
12.1 |
9.0Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.