Compare towns
Dudley 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
Dudley has the most homeowners (73.1%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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.
| Measure | Dudley | Lowell | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,929Lowest |
118,368 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Dudley and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Dudley and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $392,600±$19k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,217±$182 31% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.4%±4.1Lowest 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 | 6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 6% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell and Dudley 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Lowell | Springfield |
| High school in town | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Lowell High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
| 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.