Compare towns
Springfield vs Union vs New Bedford
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 affordable homes ($245k median).
Union has the most homeowners (92.9%).
New Bedford has the most renters (59.7% rent).
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 | Union | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
944Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +6.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
49.9±4.3Highest 28% above U.S. |
37±0.8 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and New Bedford 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% |
24.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
17%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Union 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. |
$88,958±$14kHighest 10% above U.S. |
$56,981±$3k 29% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$330,400±$26k about the U.S. average |
$357,300±$6kHighest 7% above U.S. |
| New Bedford and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,137±$26Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Springfield and New Bedford 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. |
$4,793Highest 54% above U.S. |
$4,338 39% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
90%±64.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Union 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% |
5.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
20.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
40.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Union 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 | — | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Union School District | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.