Compare towns
Brockton vs Springfield vs Webster
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%).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Webster has the oldest population (median age 39.9).
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 | Springfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 105,386 |
154,749Highest |
17,748Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.9±2.9Highest about the MA average |
| Webster 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 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9Lowest 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%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.6%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
| Brockton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,820Highest 20% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,999 33% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±4.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
12.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
59.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
| Work from home | 6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Springfield and Webster 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 | #271 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brockton | Springfield | Webster |
| High school in town | Brockton High | Springfield Central High | Bartlett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.0Highest |
12.2 |
11.6Lowest |
| 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.