Compare towns

Fall River vs New Bedford vs Everett

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 oldest population (median age 39.3).
New Bedford has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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 RiverNew BedfordEverett
People
Population
94,082
100,998Highest
50,045Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2Highest
about the MA average
37±0.8
8% below MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
23.9%±1.2Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
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%±0.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Fall River and New Bedford 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%
17%
MA: 47.3%
24.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.5Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$56,981±$3k
45% below MA
$85,218±$7kHighest
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$357,300±$6kLowest
36% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$1,137±$26Lowest
35% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$4,338
28% below MA
$4,880Highest
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.6%±3.2
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
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%
20.6%Highest
MA: 10%
14.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
40.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Highest
19 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
25 minLowest
15% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #262 of 282 in MA #263 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical Everett
High school in town B M C Durfee High New Bedford High Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
13.5Highest
12.1
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.