Compare towns
Worcester vs Berlin 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Berlin has the most homeowners (77.3%).
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 | Berlin | Springfield | Quincy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
3,378Lowest |
154,749 |
102,114 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
38.6±0.8 4% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
14.5%±1 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% 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% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest 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 |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$98,882±$5k 5% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$618,500±$14kHighest 10% above MA |
| Quincy and Berlin 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 |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,118±$59 20% above MA |
| Berlin and Quincy are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,381 6% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±3.5Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
10.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
45.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 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 |
34 min 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.2%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #147 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Berlin-Boylston | 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 |
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.