Compare towns
Dudley 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
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).
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 | Dudley | Everett | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
50,045 |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3 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+ | 16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12k 19% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Everett and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer 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 | 27 min 6% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Everett | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Everett High | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
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.