Compare towns
Calais 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
Calais has the most people working from home (23.4%).
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 | Calais | Everett | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
50,045 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Highest 8% 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. |
| Calais and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2Highest 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+ | 55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest 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 | $100,625±$27kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
| Calais and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36k 17% above 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 | $1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586Highest 111% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3Lowest 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 | 8.8%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 | 92.4%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 | 1976Highest 4 yrs 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 | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1Highest 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% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #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.