Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainville vs Windsor Locks vs Brockton
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 most renters (50.4% rent).
Plainville has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
Brockton has the most expensive homes ($438k 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 | Plainville | Windsor Locks | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
17,551 |
12,579Lowest |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +12.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
36.7±0.8 6% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13k about the U.S. average |
$80,115±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Plainville and Windsor Locks 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. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$437,500±$8kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,641±$52Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 18% above U.S. |
$4,798 54% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,820Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT | #109 of 149 in CT | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Windsor Locks School District | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Plainville High School | Windsor Locks High School | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.4 |
8.9Lowest |
17.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.