Compare towns

Worcester vs Springfield vs Windham vs St. George

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 the oldest population (median age 47).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
St. George has the most people working from home (27.6%).

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.

MeasureWorcesterSpringfieldWindhamSt. George
People
Population
831
154,749Highest
594Lowest
812
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+17.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
44.2±7.4
14% above U.S.
44.7±13.4
15% above U.S.
Worcester and St. George are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9
U.S.: 22%
17.5%±7.9
U.S.: 22%
25.6%±7Highest
U.S.: 22%
St. George and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
23.2%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.9%±2.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Windham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
53%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
0.8%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±3.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
$94,500±$12k
17% above U.S.
$109,464±$34kHighest
36% above U.S.
St. George and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
$353,900±$20k
6% above U.S.
$376,800±$50kHighest
13% above U.S.
St. George and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,144±$55
19% below U.S.
—
$1,394±$132Highest
about the U.S. average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,421
42% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$5,951Highest
91% above U.S.
$5,514
77% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.5%±37Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1
U.S.: 51.1%
41.2%±94
U.S.: 51.1%
96%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
St. George and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
19 minLowest
28% below U.S.
Work from home
23.6%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
St. George 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 — #276 of 282 in MA — —
School district Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Springfield — —
High school in town None in town Springfield Central High — —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.2
— —
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.