Compare towns
New Bedford vs Springfield vs Lawrence
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 the oldest population (median age 37).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | New Bedford | Springfield | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 100,998 |
154,749Highest |
88,736Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37±0.8Highest 8% below MA |
33.7±0.5 16% below MA |
32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Lawrence and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $56,981±$3k 45% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$60,433±$3kHighest 42% below MA |
| Lawrence and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,300±$6k 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$26Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,338Highest 28% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$3,422Lowest 43% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±3.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lawrence 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% |
17.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 40.3% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 15% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
23 min 21% below MA |
| Work from home | 5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.8%±1.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Springfield and Lawrence 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 | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Lawrence |
| High school in town | New Bedford High | Springfield Central High | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5 |
12.2Lowest |
13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.