Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware vs Lowell vs Brockton
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 shortest commute (20 min average).
Ware has the most people working from home (16.6%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
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 | Ware | Lowell | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
6,369Lowest |
118,368 |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5% MA: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.8±6Highest about the MA average |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
| Ware and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.3%±4.4 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Brockton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% MA: 47.3% |
15.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
$80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA |
| Brockton 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 |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$429,200±$11k 24% below MA |
$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
| Brockton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,625±$40 8% below MA |
$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA |
| Brockton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,820Highest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.5%±17.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.5%±4.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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 MA: 10% |
14.1% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
13.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Lowell | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Lowell High | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
— | 14.8 |
17.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.