Compare towns

Springfield vs Westhampton vs Lynn

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).
Westhampton has the most homeowners (91.4%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldWesthamptonLynn
People
Population
154,749Highest
1,552Lowest
101,709
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
49.3±4.9Highest
23% above MA
36.5±1.2
9% below MA
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
18%±4.1Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Lynn 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%
25.4%±2.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
47%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±2.4Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$100,000±$7kHighest
4% below MA
$75,043±$3k
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$413,200±$24k
26% below MA
$510,100±$23kHighest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,304±$229
26% below MA
$1,722±$60Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,476Highest
8% above MA
$5,384
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
33.3%±53.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lynn 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%
6.5%Lowest
MA: 10%
13.8%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
91.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1969Highest
5 yrs newer than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
31% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
32 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
14.1%±4Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #276 of 282 in MA — #277 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Hampshire · Westhampton Lynn
High school in town Springfield Central High Hampshire Regional High Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
10.0Lowest
15.0Highest
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.