Compare towns
Everett vs Lancaster vs Springfield vs Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lancaster has the most homeowners (85.1%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k 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 | Everett | Lancaster | Springfield | Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 50,045 |
8,606Lowest |
154,749 |
666,442Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$97,344±$2k 6% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,147±$25 22% above MA |
| Lancaster and Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Nashoba | Springfield | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Springfield Central High | Boston Latin School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
18.7Highest |
| 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.