Compare towns
Worcester vs Barnard vs Springfield vs Quincy
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Barnard has the most homeowners (85.4%).
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 | Barnard | Springfield | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,211Lowest |
154,749 |
102,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
42.4±6Highest 9% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
38.6±0.8 about the U.S. average |
| Barnard 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 U.S.: 22% |
26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Barnard and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$97,581±$19k 21% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$98,882±$5kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Quincy and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$618,500±$14kHighest 86% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,372±$80 about the U.S. average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,118±$59Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,038 94% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,381Highest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±3.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
45.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±1.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Quincy and Barnard 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Springfield | Quincy |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Springfield Central High | North Quincy High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
— | 12.2Lowest |
15.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.