Compare towns
Lowell vs Springfield vs Thompson
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).
Thompson has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Thompson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
154,749Highest |
9,337Lowest |
| 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. |
54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.9% 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% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Thompson and Lowell 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. |
$291,900±$24k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,822 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Thompson 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% |
5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Thompson and Lowell 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 | #130 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Lowell | Springfield | Thompson School District |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | Tourtellotte Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2 |
7.9Lowest |
| 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.