Compare towns
Springfield vs Petersham vs Brockton
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).
Petersham has the most people working from home (16.2%).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
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 | Petersham | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
1,185Lowest |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
56.3±2.7Highest 41% above MA |
36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.7%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brockton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.5%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
42.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brockton 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 |
$110,750±$20kHighest 7% above MA |
$80,115±$3k 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,400±$20k 30% below MA |
$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,679±$441Highest 5% below MA |
$1,641±$52 7% below MA |
| Petersham and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,636 23% below MA |
$4,820Highest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.5%±4.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Brockton 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% |
8.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
39 minHighest 32% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | — | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Petersham | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 17.0Highest |
| 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.