Compare towns
Worcester vs Gorham vs Springfield vs Lowell
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%).
Gorham has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Gorham | Springfield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
18,300Lowest |
154,749 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
39.4±2.9Highest about the U.S. average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Gorham 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 13% below U.S. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$4,825Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #24 of 133 in ME | #276 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Gorham Public Schools | Springfield | Lowell |
| High school in town | South High Community | Gorham High School | Springfield Central High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.9 |
12.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.