Compare towns

Worcester vs Griswold vs Springfield

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 the most expensive homes ($374k median).
Griswold has the most homeowners (73.3%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureWorcesterGriswoldSpringfield
People
Population
207,055Highest
11,530Lowest
154,749
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.9±0.5
13% below U.S.
48.1±3.9Highest
24% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Kids under 18
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
18.5%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
13.3%±0.6
U.S.: 17.2%
17.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
19.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,102±$2k
13% below U.S.
$78,719±$11kHighest
about the U.S. average
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
Griswold and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$374,400±$7kHighest
13% above U.S.
$275,900±$42k
17% below U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,487±$38Highest
5% above U.S.
$1,177±$65
17% below U.S.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,733Highest
52% above U.S.
$4,628
48% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.5%±15.5
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Griswold 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%
7.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
9% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
11.5%±1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
9%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester and Griswold 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 #118 of 149 in CT #276 of 282 in MA
School district Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Griswold School District Springfield
High school in town South High Community Griswold High School Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Highest
11.5Lowest
12.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.