Compare towns
Fall River vs Methuen vs Everett vs Somerset
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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Methuen has the most people working from home (12.2%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Somerset has the most homeowners (86.9%).
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 | Methuen | Everett | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 94,082Highest |
53,475 |
50,045 |
18,298Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% MA: +7.4% |
— | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
39.9±1.7 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.3%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3 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 |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
| Methuen and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$499,700±$17k 11% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$418,800±$18k 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,749±$91 about the MA average |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,271±$93 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$5,061Highest 16% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Everett 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% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 11% below MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Methuen and Somerset 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Methuen | Everett | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | B M C Durfee High | Methuen High | Everett High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.6 |
| 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.