Compare towns

Fall River vs Oakham vs Everett 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).
Oakham has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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.

MeasureFall RiverOakhamEverettNew Bedford
People
Population
94,082
1,639Lowest
50,045
100,998Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
-2.7%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
49±2.3Highest
23% above MA
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
37±0.8
8% below MA
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
18.2%±3.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
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%
21.4%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
40.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
17%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$102,000±$20kHighest
about the MA average
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$56,981±$3k
45% below MA
Oakham and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$420,100±$20k
25% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$357,300±$6kLowest
36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
$1,174±$81
33% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,137±$26Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
$4,103
32% below MA
$4,880Highest
19% below MA
$4,338
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
27.8%±69.1Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
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%
4.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.7%
MA: 10%
20.6%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
91.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%
MA: 62.5%
40.3%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945
19 yrs older than MA
1979Highest
15 yrs newer 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
39 minHighest
32% above MA
35 min
20% above MA
25 minLowest
15% below MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2
MA: 18.6%
9.6%±3.8
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Highest
MA: 18.6%
5.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Everett and Oakham 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 #263 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Quabbin Everett New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town B M C Durfee High None in town Everett High New Bedford High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Lowest
—
12.1
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.