What stands out worked out from the figures below

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lowell	Springfield
People
Population	118,368Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Highest MA: 17.9%
	Springfield and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,499Highest 25% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.4%±3.8Lowest 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	16.9%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	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 Our Story	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.