Compare towns
Springfield vs Danielson vs Plainville vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Plainville has the most homeowners (67.7%).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k median).
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 | Danielson | Plainville | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,209Lowest |
17,551 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
34.5±3.6 11% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson and Springfield 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 35% below U.S. |
$64,050±$15k 21% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4k 26% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$5,384Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | — | #89 of 149 in CT | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Plainville High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.4Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.