Compare towns
Springfield vs Fairhaven 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).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
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 | Fairhaven | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
15,903Lowest |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
32.5% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and West Springfield Town 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 |
$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA |
$69,371±$7k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,118±$79Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,144±$68Highest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,566Lowest 40% below MA |
$4,380Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.1%±14Lowest 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% |
8.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Fairhaven 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 | #126 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Fairhaven | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Fairhaven High | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.4Lowest |
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.