Compare towns

Worcester vs Hudson vs Springfield vs Millbury

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%).
Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).

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.

MeasureWorcesterHudsonSpringfieldMillbury
People
Population
207,055Highest
20,077
154,749
13,961Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+14.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.3%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.9±0.5
15% below MA
42.9±1.7Highest
7% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
42.6±3.1
7% above MA
Hudson and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.6%±0.8
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
20.9%±3
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.3%±0.6
MA: 17.9%
20.1%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.2%±2.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Millbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35.2%
MA: 47.3%
46.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
36.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.1%±0.8Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±1.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$70,102±$2k
33% below MA
$103,400±$13k
about the MA average
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$118,790±$13kHighest
14% above MA
Millbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$374,400±$7k
33% below MA
$496,800±$22kHighest
12% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$450,100±$19k
20% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,487±$38
16% below MA
$1,406±$82
20% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,623±$232Highest
8% below MA
Millbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,733
21% below MA
$6,892Highest
15% above MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$5,406
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.2%±2.9
MA: 51.8%
40.8%±8.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
43.5%±12.5
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%
5.3%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
5%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
42.8%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.2%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
75.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
13 yrs older than MA
1970Highest
6 yrs newer than MA
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 min
17% below MA
31 minHighest
6% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
11.5%±1
MA: 18.6%
19.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
14.8%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
Hudson and Millbury 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 #224 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #202 of 282 in MA
School district Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester Hudson Springfield Millbury
High school in town South High Community Hudson High Springfield Central High Millbury Junior/Senior High
Students per teacherat that high school
14.6Highest
10.2Lowest
12.2
11.3
On TownTapestry
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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.