Compare towns
Berlin vs Everett vs Springfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Berlin | Everett | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,880Lowest |
50,045 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,418 42% above U.S. |
$4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 20% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin 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 | #16 of 70 in VT | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Everett | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.