Compare towns
Springfield vs Douglas vs Lowell vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Springfield | Douglas | Lowell | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749 |
9,207Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±3.8 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Douglas and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,503±$697 15% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Lowell and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,338Highest 6% above MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 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 | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #177 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Douglas | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Douglas High School | Lowell High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
7.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.