Compare towns
Blackstone vs Chicopee vs Springfield vs Whitman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Whitman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Blackstone | Chicopee | Springfield | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
55,295 |
154,749Highest |
15,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.4±1.8 about the MA average |
| Blackstone and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
31.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21k 9% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$108,933±$14kHighest 5% above MA |
| Whitman and Blackstone are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34k 28% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$472,700±$12kHighest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85 33% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703 5% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,824Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Blackstone and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 16% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Blackstone and Whitman 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 | #207 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Chicopee | Springfield | Whitman-Hanson |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6Highest |
11.2Lowest |
12.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.