What stands out worked out from the figures below

Taunton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Taunton	Springfield
People
Population	60,433Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±1.3Highest about the MA average	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Springfield and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15%±1.2Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Taunton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$79,283±$7kHighest 24% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$422,800±$9kHighest 25% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,324±$86Highest 25% below MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,344Highest 28% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	56.8%±5.9Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA	1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Springfield and Taunton 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	#253 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton	Springfield
High school in town	Taunton High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	16.6Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.