Compare towns
Brockton vs Hooksett vs Springfield vs Chicopee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Brockton | Hooksett | Springfield | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 105,386 |
15,057Lowest |
154,749Highest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.7±0.8 6% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chicopee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Brockton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chicopee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,115±$3k about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,500±$8kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Brockton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,641±$52 16% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,820 55% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #279 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #276 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brockton | Hooksett School District | Springfield | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Brockton High | None in town | Springfield Central High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.0Highest |
— | 12.2 |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.