Compare towns
Malden vs Springfield vs Everett vs Waltham
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 oldest population (median age 35.8).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Waltham has the most people working from home (24.2%).
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 | Malden | Springfield | Everett | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 65,906 |
154,749Highest |
50,045Lowest |
64,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% 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 |
34.4±1 14% 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%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.6%±1.1Lowest 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%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
57.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
19.1%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,606±$6k 3% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$120,216±$7kHighest 16% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $633,500±$26k 13% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$748,700±$27kHighest 33% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,204±$62 25% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,268±$79Highest 29% above MA |
| Waltham and Malden 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 |
$4,766 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±4.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.7%±4.1Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
9.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 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 |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.8%±2.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
24.2%±2.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Waltham and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #184 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #217 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Malden | Springfield | Everett | Waltham |
| High school in town | Malden High | Springfield Central High | Everett High | Waltham Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.1Highest |
12.2 |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.