Compare towns
Somerville vs Everett vs Cambridge vs Arlington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Cambridge has the most expensive homes ($1092k median).
Arlington has the most homeowners (61.6%).
Cambridge is a college town. 25.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Somerville | Everett | Cambridge | Arlington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 81,036 |
50,045 |
118,796Highest |
46,350Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 31.9±0.6 20% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
30.4±0.4Lowest 24% below MA |
41.6±1.3Highest 4% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.4%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Arlington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
12.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.3%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 69.4% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
80.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
76.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
25.1%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $132,572±$6k 28% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$130,748±$4k 26% above MA |
$150,701±$5kHighest 45% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $911,300±$26k 62% above MA |
$610,000±$23kLowest 9% above MA |
$1,092,100±$42kHighest 94% above MA |
$933,800±$23k 66% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,517±$64 43% above MA |
$2,076±$69Lowest 18% above MA |
$2,787±$48Highest 58% above MA |
$2,082±$76 18% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,186 3% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,802Lowest 20% below MA |
$9,604Highest 60% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
45%±2.3 MA: 51.8% |
35%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 9.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
12.8% MA: 10% |
5.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 34.2% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
33.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
61.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 31.3%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.8%±1.5 MA: 18.6% |
34.5%±2.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Arlington and Somerville 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 | #225 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #122 of 282 in MA | #29 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerville | Everett | Cambridge | Arlington |
| High school in town | Somerville High | Everett High | Cambridge Rindge and Latin | Arlington High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1 |
9.3Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| 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.