Compare towns
Boston vs Springfield vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most expensive homes ($732k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Boston | Springfield | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
154,749Lowest |
207,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5Highest 15% below MA |
| Worcester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Highest 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+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kHighest 6% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456 26% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947Lowest 17 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Springfield Central High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
14.6 |
| 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.