What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).

Springfield has the most homeowners (49.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chelsea	Springfield
People
Population	39,908Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1.3Highest 14% below MA	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
	Chelsea and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Chelsea and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA	$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA	$3,695Highest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chelsea and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Lowest MA: 10%	25.8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	20 minLowest 31% below MA
Work from home	10.4%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chelsea 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	#280 of 282 in MA	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelsea	Springfield
High school in town	Chelsea High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.