Compare towns
Middlesex vs Worcester vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Worcester has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k 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.
| Measure | Middlesex | Worcester | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,943Lowest |
207,055Highest |
50,045 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett |
| High school in town | None in town | South High Community | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.