Compare towns
Lowell vs Springfield vs Townsend
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).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 118,368 |
154,749Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA |
| Townsend and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Lowell and Townsend 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 |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lowell | Springfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Lowell High | Springfield Central High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.2Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.