Compare towns

Mansfield 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

Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).
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.

MeasureMansfieldSpringfieldWorcester
People
Population
23,931Lowest
154,749
207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Highest
4% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
33.9±0.5
15% below MA
Kids under 18
22.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
13.3%±0.6
MA: 17.9%
Mansfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
35.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
14.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$70,102±$2k
33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$374,400±$7k
33% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147Highest
about the MA average
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,487±$38
16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$4,733
21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
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
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
19.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
42.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1951Lowest
13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
24 min
17% below MA
Work from home
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.5%±1
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #60 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #266 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Springfield Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town Mansfield High Springfield Central High South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Lowest
12.2
14.6Highest
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.