Compare towns
Lowell vs Springfield vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
154,749Highest |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
| Lowell and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499 25% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #255 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Springfield | Sutton |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
12.6 |
| 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.