Compare towns

Brockton vs Sutton 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%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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.

MeasureBrocktonSuttonSpringfield
People
Population
105,386
9,452Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.6%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+4.4%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
36.7±0.8
8% below MA
44.3±2.5Highest
11% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Kids under 18
25.3%±1Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.6%±3.3Lowest
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%
18.8%±3.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.3%
MA: 47.3%
52.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.3%±0.7
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.8Lowest
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±$3k
23% below MA
$147,125±$25kHighest
42% above MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$437,500±$8k
22% below MA
$523,100±$47kHighest
7% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,641±$52Highest
7% below MA
$1,190±$401
32% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Brockton and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,820
20% below MA
$6,763Highest
13% above MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
54.5%±4.2
MA: 51.8%
47.5%±24.4Lowest
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%
MA: 10%
5.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
57.4%
MA: 62.5%
89.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
8% above MA
30 min
about the MA average
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
6.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
22.7%±4.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #279 of 282 in MA #105 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Brockton Sutton Springfield
High school in town Brockton High Sutton High School Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
17.0Highest
12.6
12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.