Compare towns

Danielson vs Lowell 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

Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.

MeasureDanielsonLowellSpringfield
People
Population
4,209Lowest
118,368
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
34.5±3.6
11% below U.S.
35.6±0.8Highest
8% below U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Lowell and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
13.6%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Danielson and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
11.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
30%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
9.2%±6.6
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±0.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lowell and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$64,050±$15k
21% below U.S.
$78,658±$4kHighest
about the U.S. average
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
Lowell and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$224,600±$13kLowest
32% below U.S.
$429,200±$11kHighest
29% above U.S.
$245,000±$4k
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,235±$194
13% below U.S.
$1,625±$40Highest
15% above U.S.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,009
29% above U.S.
$4,499Highest
44% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.7%±17.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.4%±3.8
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
21.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
1953Highest
27 yrs older than U.S.
1952
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 minHighest
8% above U.S.
28 min
6% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
6.6%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.6%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Lowell 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 — #255 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district — Lowell Springfield
High school in town — Lowell High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.8Highest
12.2Lowest
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.