Compare towns
Springfield vs Taunton 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).
Taunton has the most homeowners (62.1%).
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 | Taunton | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
60,433Lowest |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
38.9±1.3Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
15%±1.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Taunton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
23.9% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$79,283±$7kHighest 24% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Taunton 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 |
$422,800±$9k 25% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Lowell and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,324±$86 25% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,344 28% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.8%±5.9 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Taunton 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% |
13%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
62.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr 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%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #253 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Taunton High | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
16.6Highest |
14.8 |
| 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.