Compare towns
Springfield vs Putnam vs Lowell
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).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Putnam | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
7,120Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.2±5.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Lowell 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% |
18.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Putnam and Springfield 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% |
18.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$65,511±$7k 19% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$245,100±$13k 26% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,147±$43 19% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 18% above U.S. |
$3,564Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,499Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Lowell 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% |
11.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Highest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lowell and Springfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #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 |
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.