Compare towns
Worcester vs Townshend 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%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
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 | Townshend | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
1,538Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townshend 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% |
52.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$78,750±$29kHighest about the U.S. average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Townshend and Worcester 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. |
$287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 5% above U.S. |
$1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$5,364Highest 72% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Springfield 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% |
8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer 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%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
8.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.