What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has the most affordable homes ($374k median).

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.

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

Measure	Worcester	Everett
People
Population	207,055Highest	50,045Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	35.2±1.5Highest 12% below MA
	Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	13.3%±0.6Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA	$4,880Highest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest MA: 10%	14.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Highest 13 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Worcester and Everett 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	#266 of 282 in MA	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Everett
High school 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

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.