What stands out worked out from the figures below

Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).

Northfield has the most homeowners (85.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Worcester	Northfield
People
Population	207,055Highest	2,872Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-5.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA	48.9±4.2Highest 22% above MA
Kids under 18	19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4%	14.8%±4.1Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Worcester and Northfield 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%	25.5%±5.1Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	42.4%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4.4%±3Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$70,102±$2kLowest 33% below MA	$103,375±$10kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$374,400±$7kLowest 33% below MA	$375,800±$31kHighest 33% below MA
	Northfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA	$1,142±$200Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,733Highest 21% below MA	$4,594Lowest 23% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8%	49.2%±25.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Worcester and Northfield 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%	6.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5%	85.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 17% below MA	31 minHighest 8% above MA
Work from home	11.5%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	16.5%±10.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Northfield and Worcester 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	#231 of 282 in MA
School district	Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester	Pioneer Valley
High school in town	South High Community	Pioneer Valley Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	14.6Highest	10.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.