Compare towns
Lowell vs Springfield vs Putnam
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Lowell | Springfield | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
154,749Highest |
9,292Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest 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 | 16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lowell and Putnam 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 | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lowell | Springfield | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2 |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.