Compare towns

Springfield vs Everett vs West Springfield Town

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
West Springfield Town has the most homeowners (58.5%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldEverettWest Springfield Town
People
Population
154,749Highest
50,045
28,772Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
35.2±1.5
12% below MA
40.1±2.6Highest
about the MA average
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.3Lowest
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+
13.2%±0.7
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.5%±1.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
34%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±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
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$85,218±$7kHighest
18% below MA
$69,371±$7k
33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
$321,500±$16k
43% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
$1,144±$68Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$4,880Highest
19% below MA
$4,380
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.1%±9.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
West Springfield Town and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
14.7%
MA: 10%
11.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
58.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
31% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.4%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Everett and West Springfield Town 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 #276 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #218 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Everett West Springfield
High school in town Springfield Central High Everett High West Springfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
12.1Lowest
13.1Highest
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.