Compare towns
Worcester vs Newfields vs Shrewsbury
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Shrewsbury has the most kids (23.2% 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.
| Measure | Worcester | Newfields | Shrewsbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
2,023Lowest |
38,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.6±1.5 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Shrewsbury and Newfields 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Newfields 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 13% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$139,302±$11k 73% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$592,300±$20k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,116±$98Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Shrewsbury and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Lowest 52% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,923 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.2%±6.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Shrewsbury and Newfields 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 | — | #30 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Newfields School District | Shrewsbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Shrewsbury High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 14.4Lowest |
| 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.