Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Berlin vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Berlin has the most homeowners (87.9%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Everett | Berlin | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
2,880Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
50.6±2.4Highest 30% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$86,691±$21kHighest 7% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Berlin and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$273,600±$31k 18% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,169±$171 17% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,880Highest 56% above U.S. |
$4,418 42% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Worcester 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #16 of 70 in VT | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | None in town | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.