Compare towns
Townsend vs Springfield vs East Bridgewater
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).
East Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Townsend | Springfield | East Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
154,749Highest |
14,456 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.6±2.2Highest 4% above MA |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.2%±2.8 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.8%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| Townsend and East Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 17% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$133,853±$9kHighest 29% above MA |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$510,200±$32kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 17% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,981±$671Highest 12% above MA |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031 about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,522Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±20.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| East Bridgewater and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
4.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 12 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 27% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| East Bridgewater and Townsend 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #204 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Springfield | East Bridgewater |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Springfield Central High | East Bridgewater JR./SR. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1 |
12.2Lowest |
13.3Highest |
| 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.