Compare towns

Malden vs Springfield vs Everett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Malden has the most people working from home (19.8%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureMaldenSpringfieldEverett
People
Population
65,906
154,749Highest
50,045Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+11.5%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
35.8±1Highest
11% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
35.2±1.5
12% below MA
Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
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+
13%±1.2
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
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%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.1%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Lowest
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
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$633,500±$26kHighest
13% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,204±$62Highest
25% above MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$2,076±$69
18% above MA
Malden and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,995Highest
17% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$4,880
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.2%±4.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8
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
11.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
14.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.3%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950
14 yrs older than MA
1952Highest
12 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
18% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
Work from home
19.8%±2.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #184 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA
School district Malden Springfield Everett
High school in town Malden High Springfield Central High Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school
16.1Highest
12.2
12.1Lowest
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.