What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Brockton	Springfield
People
Population	105,386Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.7±0.8Highest 8% below MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Lowest 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%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Brockton and Springfield 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%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.3%±0.7Lowest 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	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,820Highest 20% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.5%±4.2Lowest 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%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	57.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 8% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Springfield and Brockton 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Brockton	Springfield
High school in town	Brockton High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	17.0Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.