Compare towns
Springfield vs Webster 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).
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
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 | Webster | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749 |
17,748Lowest |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
| Webster 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 |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
| Worcester and Webster 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 |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
$4,733Highest 21% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
24 min 17% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #271 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Webster | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
14.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.