Compare towns
Worcester vs Boston 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%).
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Lynn has the oldest population (median age 36.5).
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 | Boston | Springfield | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055 |
666,442Highest |
154,749 |
101,709Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
36.5±1.2Highest 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±0.3Lowest 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% |
13%±0.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lynn 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% MA: 47.3% |
54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Boston and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$97,344±$2kHighest 6% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$4,456 26% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,384Highest 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±1.2Lowest 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% |
16.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
13.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #258 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Springfield | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Boston Latin School | Springfield Central High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
18.7Highest |
12.2Lowest |
15.0 |
| 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.