Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Walpole vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Walpole has the highest household income ($172k).
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 | Walpole | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
26,388Lowest |
38,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40.9±1.2Highest about the MA average |
40.6±1.5 about the MA average |
| Walpole and Shrewsbury 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%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Shrewsbury 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% |
16.9%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Walpole 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
65.6% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$139,302±$11k 34% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$592,300±$20k 5% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$2,116±$98 20% above MA |
| Walpole and Shrewsbury 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 |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$6,923 16% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.2%±6.9 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% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 15% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Walpole and Shrewsbury 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 | #107 of 282 in MA | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Walpole High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
14.4 |
| 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.