What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southwick has the most homeowners (83.4%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Southwick	Worcester
People
Population	9,217Lowest	207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.8%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	46.8±1.8Highest 17% above MA	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA
Kids under 18	18.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%
	Worcester and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9%	13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	35.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$120,462±$16kHighest 16% above MA	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$397,500±$27kHighest 29% below MA	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA
	Southwick and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,332±$72Lowest 24% below MA	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,331Highest 11% below MA	$4,733Lowest 21% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Southwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest MA: 10%	19.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6%	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Southwick 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	#211 of 282 in MA	#266 of 282 in MA
School district	Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional School District	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town	Southwick Regional School	South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school	11.0Lowest	14.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.