Compare towns

Clinton vs Lowell vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Clinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% 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.

MeasureClintonLowellSpringfield
People
Population
15,563Lowest
118,368
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+13.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
38.6±2.7Highest
4% below MA
35.6±0.8
11% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Clinton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.8%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.7%±1.3
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
14.5%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7
MA: 17.9%
Clinton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
30%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$89,781±$10kHighest
14% below MA
$78,658±$4k
24% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Clinton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$387,300±$19k
31% below MA
$429,200±$11kHighest
24% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,402±$76
20% below MA
$1,625±$40Highest
8% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,654Highest
22% below MA
$4,499
25% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.3%±6.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±3.8
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Springfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
16.9%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
54.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
43.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1956Highest
8 yrs older than MA
1953
11 yrs older than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
about the MA average
28 min
4% below MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
14.2%±4.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±1.3
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Clinton and Lowell 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 #246 of 282 in MA #255 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Clinton Lowell Springfield
High school in town Clinton Senior High Lowell High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
14.8Highest
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.