Compare towns
New Bedford vs Springfield vs Acushnet
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Acushnet has the most homeowners (85.3%).
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 | New Bedford | Springfield | Acushnet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 100,998 |
154,749Highest |
10,624Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±0.8 8% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
46±2.8Highest 15% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
26.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,981±$3k 45% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$89,503±$9kHighest 14% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$6k 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$436,400±$34kHighest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,170±$354Highest 34% below MA |
| Acushnet and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,338 28% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,647Highest 22% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
65.4%±15.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Acushnet and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
85.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 15% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Acushnet and Springfield 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 | #263 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #118 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Acushnet |
| High school in town | New Bedford High | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
12.2Lowest |
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| 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.