Compare towns
Blackstone vs Chicopee vs Springfield vs Woonsocket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Blackstone has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Woonsocket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,255Lowest |
55,295 |
154,749Highest |
43,521 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±1.7Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,191±$21kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,400±$34kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15k 7% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,189±$85Highest 16% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48 18% below U.S. |
| Blackstone and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,703Highest 83% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,960 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 65%±18.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Blackstone and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Highest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #207 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #37 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Blackstone-Millville | Chicopee | Springfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket |
| High school in town | Blackstone Millville RHS | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | Woonsocket High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.6 |
11.2Lowest |
12.2 |
15.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.