Compare towns

Springfield vs Wellfleet vs West Springfield Town

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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Wellfleet has grown the fastest since 2010 (+29.7%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldWellfleetWest Springfield Town
People
Population
154,749Highest
4,404Lowest
28,772
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+29.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
58.4±4.1Highest
46% above MA
40.1±2.6
about the MA average
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
14.4%±5.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
35.3%±5.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.5%±1.7
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
64.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
34%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Springfield and West Springfield Town 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
49% below MA
$117,938±$27kHighest
13% above MA
$69,371±$7k
33% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$855,300±$70kHighest
52% above MA
$321,500±$16k
43% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,563±$597Highest
11% below MA
$1,144±$68Lowest
35% below MA
Wellfleet and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$4,862Highest
19% below MA
$4,380
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
28.6%±23.8Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.1%±9.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
West Springfield Town 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%
9.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
85.5%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
31% below MA
35 minHighest
19% above MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20.7%±7.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.4%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #276 of 282 in MA — #218 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Wellfleet West Springfield
High school in town Springfield Central High None in town West Springfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Lowest
—
13.1Highest
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.