Compare towns
Springfield vs Putnam vs Plainville 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 most kids (24.2% under 18).
Plainville has the most homeowners (67.7%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k 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 | Putnam | Plainville | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
9,292Lowest |
17,551 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.7±3 12% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Putnam 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% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Plainville 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 26% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11k 19% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 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 6% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville and Lowell 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 | #89 of 149 in CT | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Putnam School District | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Putnam High School | Plainville High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
9.5Lowest |
11.4 |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.