Compare towns
Worcester vs Putnam 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%).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Putnam | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
7,120Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
41.2±5.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Putnam 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. |
$245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$3,695 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #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 |
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.