What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Everett
People
Population	9,100Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kLowest 23% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Lowest 17% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$4,880Lowest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	14.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	35 minLowest 20% above MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2 MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#136 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Everett
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.