Compare towns
Springfield vs Brookline vs Lowell
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 affordable homes ($245k median).
Brookline has the most expensive homes ($1247k median).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Brookline | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
63,266Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
35.2±1.2 12% below MA |
35.6±0.8Highest 11% below MA |
| Lowell and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
85.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Brookline and Lowell 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 |
$142,101±$8kHighest 37% above MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$1,246,800±$67kHighest 122% above MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,835±$82Highest 61% above MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.9%±4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Lowell 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% |
8.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
46.9% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 7% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
30.1%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #22 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Brookline | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Brookline High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.