Compare towns

Springfield vs Pembroke

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).
Pembroke has the highest household income ($146k).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldPembroke
People
Population
154,749Highest
18,382Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
45.5±3.3Highest
14% above MA
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±3.1Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
44.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.9%±1.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$146,285±$17kHighest
41% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$586,500±$28kHighest
4% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$2,464±$753Highest
40% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,585Highest
10% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
42.1%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
4%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
90.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1974Highest
10 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
31% below MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
21.2%±5.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #276 of 282 in MA #82 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Pembroke
High school in town Springfield Central High Pembroke High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.