Compare towns

Springfield vs Winchester

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).
Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k 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.

MeasureSpringfieldWinchester
People
Population
154,749Highest
23,406Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
42.5±1.9Highest
6% above MA
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
27.6%±2.3Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
18%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
79.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$230,198±$21kHighest
121% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$1,215,200±$39kHighest
116% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$2,279±$481Highest
29% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
39.3%±13.3Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
81.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1954Highest
10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
31% below MA
31 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
33.8%±3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #276 of 282 in MA #11 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Winchester
High school in town Springfield Central High Winchester High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.