Compare towns
Worcester vs Cornwall vs Springfield vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Shrewsbury has the most expensive homes ($592k 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 | Cornwall | Springfield | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,208Lowest |
154,749 |
38,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
40.6±1.5 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Shrewsbury 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% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$139,302±$11kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Cornwall 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. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$592,300±$20kHighest 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$2,116±$98Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,923Highest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Springfield 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% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shrewsbury and Cornwall 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 | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Springfield | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Springfield Central High | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
14.4 |
| 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.