Compare towns
Auburn vs Everett vs Springfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most homeowners (79.6%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Auburn | Everett | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970Lowest |
50,045 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Highest 12% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Highest 1 yr older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 12% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Auburn and Worcester 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Everett | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Everett High | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
| 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.