Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Reading vs West Boylston
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
West Boylston has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | Reading | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
25,612 |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
| West Boylston and Reading 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Reading 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% |
66.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$165,912±$13kHighest 60% above MA |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,991±$273 13% above MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Everett and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$9,320Highest 56% above MA |
$6,115 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #50 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Reading | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Reading Memorial High | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1 |
12.1 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.