Compare towns
Worcester vs Warner vs Springfield vs Millbury
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%).
Warner has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Millbury has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Warner | Springfield | Millbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
2,959Lowest |
154,749 |
13,961 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5 13% below U.S. |
43.7±4Highest 12% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.6±3.1 10% above U.S. |
| Warner and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Millbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Warner and Millbury 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% |
42.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 13% below U.S. |
$94,022±$18k 16% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$118,790±$13kHighest 47% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 13% above U.S. |
$353,100±$22k 6% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$450,100±$19kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 5% above U.S. |
$1,219±$123 14% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,623±$232Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Millbury and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 52% above U.S. |
$7,650Highest 145% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,406 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±21.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±12.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Worcester 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.8%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Warner and Millbury 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 | #202 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Kearsarge Regional School District | Springfield | Millbury |
| High school in town | South High Community | None in town | Springfield Central High | Millbury Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
— | 12.2 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.