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 homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Ware | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
10,048Lowest |
154,749 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 15% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2kHighest 33% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Worcester and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest 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% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest 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 | Ware | Springfield |
| High school in town | South High Community | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.1Lowest |
12.2 |
| 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.