Compare towns
Worcester vs Everett vs Springfield vs Lowell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Lowell has the oldest population (median age 35.6).
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 | Springfield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
50,045Lowest |
154,749 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA |
| Lowell and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 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%±0.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Worcester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Everett and Lowell 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest 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 | 19.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Lowell 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Everett | Springfield | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Everett High | Springfield Central High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.