Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Putney vs Shrewsbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the youngest population (median age 33.9).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Shrewsbury has the highest household income ($139k).
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 | Putney | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
2,622Lowest |
38,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
40.6±1.5Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Shrewsbury and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putney and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$139,302±$11kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$592,300±$20k 78% above U.S. |
| Everett and Shrewsbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69 47% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$2,116±$98Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,923Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #32 of 70 in VT | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | None in town | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 14.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.