We would have to get into a serious discussion of the history of technology to decide this. Worcester, Massachusetts, was in the middle of the industrial revolution pretty much from the start.

http://www.nps.gov/spar/upload/Tho%20Blanchard%20bulletin%201206%20A.doc

I suppose the first thing to do would be to choose some dates for comparison, say 1850 and 2000...

The first ironworks in the Mass. Bay Colony was established prior to 1640 so as to support ship building and other local industry, some of the most advanced technology of the day. The Puritans came from the north east of England and brought with them the best practices of all the various trades of the time required for this industry. The volumes were relatively low and the source of iron was limonite or rock ore from bogs, which was the same source as in England. And timber, both for ships and for furnaces was much more abundant in New England than in England. See Creating the Commonwealth by Stephen Innes, p.239 & fff.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."