Compare towns
Medford vs Somerville vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Medford has the most homeowners (54.1%).
Somerville has the most expensive homes ($911k 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.
| Measure | Medford | Somerville | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 59,354 |
81,036Highest |
50,045Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.9±1Highest 10% below MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Medford and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.8% MA: 47.3% |
69.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Somerville and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,540±$8k 25% above MA |
$132,572±$6kHighest 28% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
| Somerville and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $755,500±$23k 34% above MA |
$911,300±$26kHighest 62% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,509±$94 42% above MA |
$2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
| Somerville and Medford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,286Highest 5% above MA |
$6,186 3% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±4.9 MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 7.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Highest 22 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 26.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerville and Medford 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 | #203 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Medford | Somerville | Everett |
| High school in town | Medford High | Somerville High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
11.2 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.