Compare towns
Townsend vs Everett vs Somerset
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Townsend | Everett | Somerset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
50,045Highest |
18,298 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.4Lowest 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%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$112,677±$6k 8% above MA |
| Townsend and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$418,800±$18kLowest 25% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,271±$93Lowest 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Highest about the MA average |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$4,977 17% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
31 minLowest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerset and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Everett | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Everett High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1 |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.