Compare towns
Worcester vs Webster vs New Bedford
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%).
Webster has the most homeowners (59.8%).
New Bedford has the most kids (23.9% 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 | Webster | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
17,748Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Webster and New Bedford 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% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$72,895±$6kHighest 30% below MA |
$56,981±$3kLowest 45% below MA |
| Webster 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 33% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$357,300±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Worcester and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733Highest 21% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,338 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 19.6% MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8% MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 17% below MA |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Worcester and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Webster | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | South High Community | Bartlett High School | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
11.6Lowest |
13.5 |
| 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.