Compare towns
Springfield vs Brookfield vs West Springfield Town
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 most kids (24.2% under 18).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Brookfield | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
3,460Lowest |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brookfield 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 |
$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
$69,371±$7k 33% below MA |
| Brookfield and West Springfield Town 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 |
$341,900±$23kHighest 39% below MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
| Brookfield and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,144±$68Highest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and West Springfield Town 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Brookfield | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.