What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Malden	Springfield
People
Population	65,906Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.8±1Highest 11% below MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	13%±1.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Springfield and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.1%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Malden and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,606±$6kHighest 3% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$633,500±$26kHighest 13% above MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,204±$62Highest 25% above MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,995Highest 17% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.4%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 18% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	19.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#184 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Malden	Springfield
High school in town	Malden High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.1Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.