Compare towns
Worcester vs Thompson vs New Bedford
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 the youngest population (median age 33.9).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
New Bedford has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Thompson | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,337Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$291,900±$24kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$357,300±$6k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,137±$26 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 52% above U.S. |
$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,338 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Worcester and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson 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 | #130 of 149 in CT | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Thompson School District | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | South High Community | Tourtellotte Memorial High School | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
7.9Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.