Compare towns
Brockton vs Springfield vs Ware vs Chicopee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
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 | Springfield | Ware | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 105,386 |
154,749Highest |
10,048Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.7±0.8 8% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Ware and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25.3%±1Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.3% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.7 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,115±$3kHighest 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Brockton and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,500±$8kHighest 22% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,641±$52Highest 7% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,820Highest 20% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.5%±4.2 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.5% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 8% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min about the MA average |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 6.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware 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 | #279 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brockton | Springfield | Ware | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Brockton High | Springfield Central High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.0Highest |
12.2 |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.