Compare towns
Brockton vs Springfield vs Windsor Locks 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 the most expensive homes ($438k median).
Springfield has the most renters (50.4% rent).
Windsor Locks has the most people working from home (17.7%).
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 | Springfield | Windsor Locks | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 105,386 |
154,749Highest |
12,579Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.6%Highest 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. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.4±2.6 6% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chicopee and Windsor Locks 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% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4Lowest 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chicopee and Windsor Locks 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% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$3k about the U.S. average |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$81,205±$13kHighest about the U.S. average |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
| Windsor Locks and Brockton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $437,500±$8kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$258,800±$14k 22% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,641±$52Highest 16% above U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,820Highest 55% above U.S. |
$3,695 18% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 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% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 57.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1960 20 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Highest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #279 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #109 of 149 in CT | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brockton | Springfield | Windsor Locks School District | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Brockton High | Springfield Central High | Windsor Locks High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 17.0Highest |
12.2 |
8.9Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.