Compare towns
Springfield vs Woonsocket vs Lowell vs Brockton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
Lowell has the most people working from home (10.6%).
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 | Woonsocket | Lowell | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
43,521Lowest |
118,368 |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
36.7±0.8Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Brockton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woonsocket 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$80,115±$3kHighest about the U.S. average |
| 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 26% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$437,500±$8kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| 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±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,641±$52Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Brockton and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
$4,820Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lowell 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #255 of 282 in MA | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Lowell | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Woonsocket High School | Lowell High | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Lowest |
15.2 |
14.8 |
17.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.