Compare towns
Springfield vs Lisbon vs Plainfield vs Lowell
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).
Lisbon has the most homeowners (97.9%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Lisbon | Plainfield | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,211Lowest |
15,141 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.5±5.2Highest 14% above U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Lisbon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Lisbon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.3%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lisbon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$92,708±$12kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Lisbon and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$315,700±$26k 5% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,044 30% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±75.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lisbon 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% |
6.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lowell and Plainfield 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 | #102 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Lisbon School District | Plainfield School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Plainfield High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 10.3Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.