Compare towns

Fall River vs Everett vs Methuen

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).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Methuen has the most homeowners (72.3%).

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.

MeasureFall RiverEverettMethuen
People
Population
94,082Highest
50,045Lowest
53,475
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
39.9±1.7Highest
about the MA average
Methuen and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.3%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
Everett and Methuen 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%
17.2%±1.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Methuen and Fall River 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%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
31%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
6.7%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Methuen 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
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$113,310±$7kHighest
9% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11kLowest
30% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$499,700±$17k
11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,749±$91
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$4,880
19% below MA
$5,061Highest
16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
48.4%±6.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
14.7%
MA: 10%
7.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
19 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1968Highest
4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
11% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
28 min
5% below MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
12.2%±2.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Methuen and Everett 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 #262 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #236 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Everett Methuen
High school in town B M C Durfee High Everett High Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
12.1
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.