Compare towns
Worcester vs Fairhaven 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%).
Fairhaven has the most homeowners (74.4%).
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 | Fairhaven | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
15,903Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Fairhaven 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Fairhaven | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | Fairhaven High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.