Compare towns
Brockton vs Fall River vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Brockton | Fall River | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 105,386 |
94,082Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Brockton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Fall River and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA |
$56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,820Highest 20% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±4.2 MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Springfield and Fall River 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 | #279 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brockton | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield |
| High school in town | Brockton High | B M C Durfee High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.0Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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.