Compare towns
Everett vs Springfield vs Ayer
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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Ayer has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Springfield | Ayer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
154,749Highest |
3,098Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.1±6.9Highest 5% above MA |
| Ayer 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±5.3Lowest 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% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.3%±5.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Ayer and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
37.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$74,878±$17k 28% below MA |
| Everett and Ayer 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$444,600±$43k 21% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,240±$169 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,911Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±21.9Lowest 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 | 14.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
58.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Springfield | — |
| High school in town | Everett High | Springfield Central High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.