Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Petersham
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 shortest commute (24 min average).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Petersham has the most homeowners (94.2%).
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 | Petersham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
1,185Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest 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%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
| Petersham and Everett 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 |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,679±$441 5% below MA |
| Everett and Petersham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,636Lowest 23% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest 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% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Petersham 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 | — |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Petersham |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.