Compare towns
Springfield vs Phillipston 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).
Phillipston has the most homeowners (92.4%).
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 | Phillipston | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
1,895Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
48.8±1.7Highest 22% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±1.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.4% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$94,692±$14kHighest 9% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Phillipston 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 56% below MA |
$372,400±$27k 34% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,375±$849 22% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Lowell and Phillipston 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 |
$3,914 35% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Phillipston 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% |
5.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
92.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1984Highest 20 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.2%±3.7 MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Lowell and Phillipston 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 | — | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 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.