Compare towns
Worcester vs Needham vs Springfield vs New Bedford
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
New Bedford has the most renters (59.7% rent).
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 | Needham | Springfield | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
32,459Lowest |
154,749 |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Needham and New Bedford 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$56,981±$3k 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$357,300±$6k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,338 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
20.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Needham | Springfield | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | South High Community | Needham High | Springfield Central High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.9Lowest |
12.2 |
13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.