Compare towns
Springfield vs Westfield vs New Bedford
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).
Westfield has the highest household income ($88k).
New Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
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 | Westfield | New Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
40,378Lowest |
100,998 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.9±1.8Highest about the MA average |
37±0.8 8% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.1%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
18.7%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% MA: 47.3% |
33.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
17%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
10%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$87,753±$6kHighest 16% below MA |
$56,981±$3k 45% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$325,100±$11k 42% below MA |
$357,300±$6kHighest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA |
$1,117±$60Lowest 37% below MA |
$1,137±$26 35% below MA |
| 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 38% below MA |
$4,746Highest 21% below MA |
$4,338 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.5%±5.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±3.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and New Bedford 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% |
10.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
40.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 minHighest 9% below MA |
25 min 15% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8.6%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
5.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Westfield 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 | #197 of 282 in MA | #263 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Westfield | New Bedford · Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Westfield High | New Bedford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.9Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| 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.