Compare towns
Worcester vs Plainfield vs Springfield
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%).
Plainfield has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Plainfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
616Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA |
$63,500±$14k 39% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$309,000±$47k 45% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,292±$558 27% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Worcester and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,458 26% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | — | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | — | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | — | 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 |
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.