Compare towns
Worcester vs Ware 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%).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Ware | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
6,369Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
39.8±6Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Ware and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ware 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% |
17.4%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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 MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
14.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 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 |
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.