Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Bourne vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Bourne has the most homeowners (75.8%).
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.
| Measure | Worcester | Everett | Bourne | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045 |
20,323Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
52±1.8Highest 30% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest 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+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.8%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
46%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.6%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$91,058±$7kHighest 12% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Bourne 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 33% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$575,600±$28k about the MA average |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Everett and Bourne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,379±$300 22% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,485 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
62.8%±5.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Bourne and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
6.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
14.9%±3.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Bourne 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 | #206 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Bourne · Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.1 |
9.8Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.