Compare towns
Harvard vs Springfield vs Worcester vs Shirley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Shirley has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
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 | Harvard | Springfield | Worcester | Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,927Lowest |
154,749 |
207,055Highest |
6,976 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
44.3±3.4Highest 11% above MA |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.3%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Shirley and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
36.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$122,365±$16k 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$427,600±$36k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$424 25% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,481±$421 16% below MA |
| Worcester and Shirley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$5,156 14% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.1%±21.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
9.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 9% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
40 minHighest 39% above MA |
| Work from home | 44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #12 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #239 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Harvard | Springfield | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ayer Shirley School District |
| High school in town | The Bromfield High School | Springfield Central High | South High Community | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.0Lowest |
12.2 |
14.6Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.