Compare towns
Springfield vs Halifax vs Lynn 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).
Halifax has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k 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.
| Measure | Springfield | Halifax | Lynn | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749 |
7,748Lowest |
101,709 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.9±4.7Highest 5% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Halifax and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.2%±5.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
36.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$118,556±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$481,500±$51k 14% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Lynn and Halifax are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,804±$375Highest about the MA average |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Halifax and Lynn 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 |
$6,840Highest 14% above MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
45.6%±37.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield 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% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
13.9%±5.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
| Halifax 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #120 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Halifax | Lynn | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Lynn English High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 15.0Highest |
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.