Compare towns
New Bedford vs Newfields vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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.
| Measure | New Bedford | Newfields | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 100,998 |
2,023Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
44.1±1.8Highest 13% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| New Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,981±$3k 29% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$6k 7% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$26Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,338 39% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±3.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #263 of 282 in MA | — | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical | Newfields School District | Springfield |
| High school in town | New Bedford High | None in town | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
— | 12.2Lowest |
| 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.