Compare towns
Worcester vs Barre vs Lowell vs Springfield
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%).
Barre has the most homeowners (75.8%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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.
| Measure | Worcester | Barre | Lowell | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
5,572Lowest |
118,368 |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
43.8±8.5Highest 9% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Barre and Lowell 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% |
15.8%±5.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
19%±5.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Barre and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31.6% MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±3.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$107,727±$13kHighest 4% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$394,300±$55k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Lowell and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,030±$713Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$5,163Highest 14% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±27.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest 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% |
8.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.2%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Barre 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 | #134 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Quabbin | Lowell | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | Quabbin Regional High School | Lowell High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.9 |
14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.