Southwick vs West Springfield
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $50k more for a 4BR in Southwick, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $50k for one tier of schooling.
West Springfield is about 8 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: West Springfield works out roughly $900 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Southwick if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Southwick numbers →Choose West Springfield if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All West Springfield numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsSouthwick ahead on 3 of 8, 1 against
| Southwick | West Springfield | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | solid schoolsT3 | mixed schoolsT4 |
| MCAS achievement | 42nd | 35th |
| Student growth | 44th | 46th |
| Graduation rate | 96.5% | 91.4% |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $20,753 | $19,751 |
| Schools in the district | 2 | 7 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 0 | 3 |
What a home costsWest Springfield ahead on 6 of 8
| Southwick | West Springfield | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $450kT1 | $400kT1 |
| 3BR townhouse | $350k | $315k |
| 2BR condo | $260k | $235k |
| 3BR home | $427k | $368k |
| 5+ BR home | $681k | $490k |
| 3BR rent | $2,257/mo | $2,140/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $128k | $114k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.5% a year | 5.6% a year |
What you pay the townWest Springfield ahead on 1 of 4
| Southwick | West Springfield | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $14.42T3 | $14.02T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$6,500 | ≈$5,600 |
| Town spending per resident | $3,160 | $4,579 |
| Share of budget on schools | 46% | 42% |
Getting to workWest Springfield ahead on 1 of 3
| Southwick | West Springfield | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 129 minT4 | 121 minT4 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 91 mi | 83 mi |
Before kindergartenWest Springfield ahead on 2 of 4
| Southwick | West Springfield | |
|---|---|---|
| Licensed child care programs | 6 | 34 |
| Child care places | 209 | 1,079 |
| Centers vs family programs | 2 centers | 13 centers |
| Infant places in centers | 59 | 55 |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Southwick | West Springfield | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,232 | 28,835 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Family amenities | 4/10 | 3/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 4/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 5/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
