Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Lowell vs Lynn
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Lynn has the most expensive homes ($510k 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 | Plainfield | Lowell | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
15,141Lowest |
118,368 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37±4.5Highest 5% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
36.5±1.2 6% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Lynn 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% |
19.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Lynn 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% |
16.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainfield and Lynn 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% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8k 5% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
$75,043±$3k 7% below U.S. |
| Lowell and Plainfield 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. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23kHighest 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70 15% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Lynn and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$5,384Highest 73% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn 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% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #255 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Plainfield School District | Lowell | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Plainfield High School | Lowell High | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.3Lowest |
14.8 |
15.0Highest |
| 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.