Compare towns
Springfield vs Athol vs Brockton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Athol has the most people working from home (9.7%).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
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 | Springfield | Athol | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,801Lowest |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
36.8±3.3Highest 8% below MA |
36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
| Athol and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brockton and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Athol and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,394±$8k 35% below MA |
$80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,820Highest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.5%±4.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
21% MA: 10% |
13.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 min 10% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 17.0Highest |
| 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.