Compare towns
Worcester vs Hadley vs West Boylston
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%).
Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).
West Boylston has the most homeowners (77.9%).
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 | Hadley | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
5,306Lowest |
7,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
45.5±2.7 14% above MA |
| Hadley and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Worcester and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| West Boylston and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Hadley and West Boylston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
$440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
$1,261±$154Lowest 28% below MA |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 21% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
$6,115Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9 MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
20 minLowest 33% below MA |
25 minHighest 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and West Boylston 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 | #116 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Hadley | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | Hopkins Academy | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
7.3Lowest |
10.6 |
| 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.