Compare towns
Brookline vs Chicopee vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
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 | Brookline | Chicopee | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Lowest |
55,295 |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #23 of 120 in NH | #247 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brookline School District | Chicopee | Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.