Compare towns

Springfield vs Mendon 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 homeowners (90.7%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Bradford has the most people working from home (18.6%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldMendonBradford
People
Population
1,122Lowest
6,325Highest
1,565
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
44.1±4.4Lowest
13% above U.S.
50.3±5.2
29% above U.S.
Springfield and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.4%±4.2
U.S.: 22%
Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.6
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.3%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19kLowest
25% above U.S.
$132,256±$33kHighest
64% above U.S.
$108,015±$21k
34% above U.S.
Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50k
15% above U.S.
$616,000±$37kHighest
85% above U.S.
$341,700±$38kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,840±$196Highest
30% above U.S.
$1,507±$206
7% above U.S.
Mendon and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946Lowest
91% above U.S.
$7,213Highest
131% above U.S.
$6,307
102% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
78.7%±26Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.1%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
Mendon and Bradford 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%
7.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
9.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
30% above U.S.
30 minLowest
14% above U.S.
32 min
21% above U.S.
Work from home
16.7%±11.6
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±5.7Lowest
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 — #210 of 282 in MA —
School district — Mendon-Upton 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.