Compare towns
Springfield vs Athol vs New Bedford
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 homeowners (63.7%).
New Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Springfield | Athol | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,801Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
36.8±3.3 8% below MA |
37±0.8Highest 8% below MA |
| New Bedford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Springfield 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| New Bedford and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% MA: 47.3% |
21.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,394±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$56,981±$3k 45% below MA |
| Athol and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$357,300±$6kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,137±$26 35% below MA |
| Springfield and New Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$4,338Highest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1940 24 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 minHighest 10% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.