Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Fairhaven vs Millbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Fairhaven has the oldest population (median age 48.5).
Millbury has the most people working from home (14.8%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Everett | Fairhaven | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
15,903 |
13,961Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
42.6±3.1 7% above MA |
| Fairhaven and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.9%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.2%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Fairhaven and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$95,965±$19k 8% below MA |
$118,790±$13kHighest 14% above MA |
| Millbury and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$446,700±$19k 21% below MA |
$450,100±$19k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,623±$232 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$5,406Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14 MA: 51.8% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
14.8%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Millbury and Worcester 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Fairhaven | Millbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Fairhaven High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.4 |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.