Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware vs Warren 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%).
Warren has the most homeowners (64.5%).
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 | Warren | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
6,369 |
5,009Lowest |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest 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 |
38.7±7.3 3% below MA |
36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
| Ware and Warren 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% |
20.8%±8Lowest 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%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.4%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
14.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Warren 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% |
23.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2k 49% below MA |
$45,158±$11kLowest 57% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
$80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$253,400±$31k 55% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
$437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,039±$104 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
$1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,408Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,530 24% 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% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest 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% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
13.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
57.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1960 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 min 9% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
16.6%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and Warren 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 | #165 of 282 in MA | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Quaboag Regional | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Quaboag Regional High | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 10.0Lowest |
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.