Compare towns
Worcester vs South Hooksett 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%).
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
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 | South Hooksett | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
5,902Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
35.2±3.6Highest 10% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Hooksett 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Worcester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | #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.