Compare towns
Somerset vs Worcester vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somerset has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Somerset | Worcester | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,298Lowest |
207,055Highest |
94,082 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.2Highest 18% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Fall River and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.3%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,677±$6kHighest 8% above MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,800±$18kHighest 25% below MA |
$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Somerset and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,271±$93 28% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,977Highest 17% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±12.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Somerset and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 minLowest 17% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 12%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Somerset and Worcester 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 | #132 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | South High Community | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
14.6Highest |
11.3Lowest |
| 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.