Compare towns
Springfield vs Lawrence 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).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (11.5%).
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 | Lawrence | Lynn | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749 |
88,736Lowest |
101,709 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
36.5±1.2Highest 9% below MA |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Lynn 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% MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$60,433±$3k 42% below MA |
$75,043±$3kHighest 28% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$415,200±$23k 26% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,662±$50 6% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,487±$38 16% below MA |
| Lynn and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence and Lynn 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% |
17.6% MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
42.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older 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 |
23 min 21% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1 MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Lawrence | Lynn | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Lawrence High School | Lynn English High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
13.6 |
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.