Compare towns
Brockton vs Plainfield vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brockton has the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 105,386 |
15,141Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.7±0.8 6% below U.S. |
37±4.5Highest 5% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Brockton and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,500±$8kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,641±$52Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,820Highest 55% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield and Springfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brockton | Plainfield School District | Springfield |
| High school in town | Brockton High | Plainfield High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.0Highest |
10.3Lowest |
12.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.