Compare towns
Worcester vs Athol vs Springfield vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Athol has the most homeowners (72.4%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k 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 | Worcester | Athol | Springfield | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
12,011Lowest |
154,749 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
41.3±1.9Highest 3% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.3%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$69,316±$5k 33% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$75,043±$3kHighest 28% 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 | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$268,100±$13k 52% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,150±$182 35% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$3,403Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.5%±17.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
16.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
27 min 8% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Athol 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Athol-Royalston | Springfield | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Athol High | Springfield Central High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.6Lowest |
12.2 |
15.0Highest |
| 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.