Compare towns
Everett vs Springfield vs Northbridge
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).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
154,749Highest |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
16.4%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$7k 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest 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% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Springfield | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Everett High | Springfield Central High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.2Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| 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.