Compare towns
Worcester vs Middlesex vs Springfield vs West Boylston
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
West Boylston has the most expensive homes ($440k 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 | Middlesex | Springfield | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,943Lowest |
154,749 |
7,782 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±2.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| West Boylston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Boylston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$104,551±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Middlesex 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±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$440,000±$24kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,261±$154 11% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.9%±12.8 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Springfield | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Springfield Central High | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.2 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.