Compare towns

Worcester vs Everett vs Springfield vs Quincy

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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Quincy has the most people working from home (21.2%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterEverettSpringfieldQuincy
People
Population
207,055Highest
50,045Lowest
154,749
102,114
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.1%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+10.1%
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
38.6±0.8Highest
4% below MA
Kids under 18
19.6%±0.8
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.5%±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+
13.3%±0.6
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7
MA: 17.9%
17.7%±1.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%
MA: 47.3%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
50.3%Highest
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%
8.2%±0.9
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,102±$2k
33% below MA
$85,218±$7k
18% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$98,882±$5kHighest
5% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$374,400±$7k
33% below MA
$610,000±$23k
9% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$618,500±$14kHighest
10% above MA
Quincy and Everett 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±$69
18% above MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$2,118±$59Highest
20% above MA
Quincy and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,733
21% below MA
$4,880
19% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,381Highest
6% above 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%
48.7%±3.5Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
10.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
42.8%
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Highest
MA: 62.5%
45.2%
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
1958Highest
6 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
35 min
19% above MA
Work from home
11.5%±1
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±1.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #266 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #147 of 282 in MA
School district Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Everett Springfield Quincy
High school in town South High Community Everett High Springfield Central High North Quincy High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6
12.1Lowest
12.2
15.5Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.