Compare towns

Ashburnham vs Chicopee vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).

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.

MeasureAshburnhamChicopeeSpringfield
People
Population
6,415Lowest
55,295
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±6.3
about the MA average
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Chicopee and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.1%±4.5
MA: 17.9%
19.5%±1.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Chicopee and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.9%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.6%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Springfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$118,809±$11kHighest
14% above MA
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$390,700±$34kHighest
30% below MA
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,807±$1kHighest
about the MA average
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Ashburnham and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,046Highest
about the MA average
$3,847
36% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
100%±100Highest
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
Ashburnham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.3%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
32 minHighest
10% above MA
21 min
27% below MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
16%±7.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
Ashburnham 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 #178 of 282 in MA #247 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Ashburnham-Westminster Chicopee Springfield
High school in town None in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2Lowest
12.2Highest
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.