Compare towns
Malden vs Worcester vs Everett vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Malden has the highest household income ($101k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Salem has the most homeowners (49.7%).
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 | Worcester | Everett | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 65,906 |
207,055Highest |
50,045 |
44,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.8±1 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
39.3±1.5Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Worcester 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% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA |
$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$85,153±$5k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA |
$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,995 17% below MA |
$4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
12.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 18% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Salem |
| High school in town | Malden High | South High Community | Everett High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
14.6 |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.