Compare towns
Everett vs Hardwick 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
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
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 | Everett | Hardwick | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
2,684Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Hardwick and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 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+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
30.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Everett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,108±$119Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Quabbin | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | 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 |
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.