Compare towns

Winchester vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winchester has the most expensive homes ($1215k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

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