Compare towns
Springfield vs Fall River 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).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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 | Fall River | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
94,082Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.3±1.2Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Fall River 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1953Highest 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | B M C Durfee High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.3Lowest |
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.