Compare towns
Athol vs Everett vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Athol | Everett | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 12,011Lowest |
50,045 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.3% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 8% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Everett 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Athol-Royalston | Everett | Springfield |
| High school in town | Athol High | Everett High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
12.2Highest |
| 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.