Compare towns
Worcester vs Townsend vs Lynn 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%).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
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 | Townsend | Lynn | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,100Lowest |
101,709 |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Townsend and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$510,100±$23kHighest 9% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
$5,384 10% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | North Middlesex | Lynn | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | North Middlesex Regional | Lynn English High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
13.1 |
15.0Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.