Compare towns
Springfield vs Hampden vs Bradford
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 most expensive homes ($384k median).
Hampden has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bradford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
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 | Hampden | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,122Lowest |
4,946Highest |
1,565 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.4±8.8Highest 32% above U.S. |
50.9±3.3 31% above U.S. |
50.3±5.2Lowest 29% above U.S. |
| Springfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±8 U.S.: 22% |
14%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bradford and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.8%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampden and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,893±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$104,536±$16k 29% above U.S. |
$108,015±$21kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Bradford and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,100±$50kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$358,200±$16k 8% above U.S. |
$341,700±$38kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Springfield and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$217Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,132±$107 20% below U.S. |
$1,507±$206Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,946Lowest 91% above U.S. |
$6,181 98% above U.S. |
$6,307Highest 102% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.9%±64.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.9%±42.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±22.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bradford and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.7%±11.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bradford 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 | — | #199 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | — | Hampden-Wilbraham | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.