Compare towns
Worcester vs Ossipee vs Springfield
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%).
Ossipee has the most homeowners (82%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Ossipee | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
4,521Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$90,521±$22kHighest 12% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Ossipee and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$4,401 41% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Springfield 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #100 of 120 in NH | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.