Compare towns
Springfield vs Thompson vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
Worcester has the most expensive homes ($374k median).
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 | Thompson | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749 |
9,337Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
$374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
$4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Thompson School District | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
7.9Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.