What it's like to live in Everett
Everett is a smaller city in Massachusetts with air quality that stays clean most of the year, a growing population, schools with smaller class sizes than the national average, and public transit that many commuters actually use. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Everett deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, commute times longer than most cities, and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin.
The good
- Clean air
- Growing population
- Low student-teacher ratio
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Snowy winters — 49" per year
How Everett compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Everett
Based on Everett's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,152
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $83,040 a year
- 52% of Everett renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$122,000
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $61,000
- Homes cost 7.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 47% above US
$2,076/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,076 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $610,000. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $610,000 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job marketNear US average
4.0% unemployment
Unemployment here is 4.0%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
SafetyNear US average
319 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 1276/100k · Everett Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 35% above US
35 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 35 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 16% take public transit; 11% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are comfortable, with highs around 80°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 26°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 31% below US
25% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 25%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
11 public schools inside the boundary
There are 11 public schools inside the boundary and 1 private school. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Boston African American National Historic Site (3 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Everett's strongest points are air quality that stays clean most of the year and a growing population; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,076/mo) equals 29% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Everett
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