Compare towns
Worcester vs Ayer vs Springfield vs Quincy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% rent).
Ayer has the most homeowners (69.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Quincy has the most expensive homes ($619k 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 | Ayer | Springfield | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
8,645Lowest |
154,749 |
102,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1% MA: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
39.2±2.8Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
| Ayer and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±1Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ayer 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% |
14.5%±2.8 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Quincy and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
42.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
| Ayer and Quincy 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 |
$463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$618,500±$14kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,118±$59Highest 20% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$5,057 16% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,381Highest 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±3.5 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 | 19.6% MA: 10% |
10.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
45.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Quincy 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Ayer Shirley School District | Springfield | Quincy |
| High school in town | South High Community | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Springfield Central High | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
11.5Lowest |
12.2 |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.