Compare towns

Townsend vs Fall River vs Everett vs Brookline

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Brookline has the most people working from home (24.7%).

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.

MeasureTownsendFall RiverEverettBrookline
People
Population
9,100
94,082Highest
50,045
5,736Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+13%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
39.3±1.2
about the U.S. average
35.2±1.5Lowest
10% below U.S.
41.2±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
Brookline and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21%±3.2
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.8%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brookline and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.1%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±0.9
U.S.: 17.2%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.4%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Townsend and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
16.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
4.1%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.3%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$121,528±$23k
51% above U.S.
$56,673±$3kLowest
30% below U.S.
$85,218±$7k
6% above U.S.
$171,046±$4kHighest
112% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$22k
30% above U.S.
$395,500±$11kLowest
19% above U.S.
$610,000±$23kHighest
83% above U.S.
$544,400±$38k
64% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,469±$313
4% above U.S.
$1,155±$27Lowest
18% below U.S.
$2,076±$69
47% above U.S.
$2,500±$1kHighest
77% above U.S.
Brookline and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,031
93% above U.S.
$3,953Lowest
27% above U.S.
$4,880
56% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±16.8
U.S.: 51.1%
52.5%±3.3
U.S.: 51.1%
56.4%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.8%±43.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
0.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82%
U.S.: 65.2%
35.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1945
35 yrs older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
1993Highest
13 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 min
33% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
10.5%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2
U.S.: 15.1%
24.7%±5.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #136 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #23 of 120 in NH
School district North Middlesex Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Everett Brookline School District
High school in town North Middlesex Regional B M C Durfee High Everett High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.1Highest
11.3Lowest
12.1
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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.