Compare towns

Everett vs Springfield vs Sturbridge

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).
Sturbridge 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.

MeasureEverettSpringfieldSturbridge
People
Population
50,045
154,749Highest
9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.5%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.2±1.5
12% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
47.2±2.6Highest
18% above MA
Kids under 18
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.7%±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%
19.8%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
49.3%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5Lowest
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
$136,759±$15kHighest
32% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$425,800±$18k
24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,193±$398
32% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,880
19% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,520Highest
9% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±5.8
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
42%±17.7Lowest
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%
3.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
86.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 min
20% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
38 minHighest
30% above MA
Work from home
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19.8%±4.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #264 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #89 of 282 in MA
School district Everett Springfield Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town Everett High Springfield Central High Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
12.2Highest
7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.