Compare towns
Rochester vs Springfield vs Southampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most expensive homes ($599k median).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Southampton has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Rochester | Springfield | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,837Lowest |
154,749Highest |
6,230 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.5±6Highest 16% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.4±3.5 9% above MA |
| Rochester and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.1%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $120,273±$12k 16% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA |
| Southampton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $599,100±$31kHighest 7% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,432±$743Highest 19% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
— |
| Rochester and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,530Highest 9% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,470 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±10.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.4% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 25% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.3%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Springfield and Rochester 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 | #104 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical · Rochester | Springfield | Southampton |
| High school in town | Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| 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.