Compare towns
Malden vs Fall River vs Everett vs Waltham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Waltham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Malden | Fall River | Everett | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 65,906 |
94,082Highest |
50,045Lowest |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 11% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
34.4±1Lowest 14% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13%±1.2 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Fall River and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
$395,500±$11kLowest 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62 25% above MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Waltham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995Highest 17% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,766 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest 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 | 11.4% MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
25 minLowest 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Waltham and Malden 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 | #184 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Waltham |
| High school in town | Malden High | B M C Durfee High | Everett High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
11.3 |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.