Compare towns
Chicopee vs Ashburnham vs Springfield vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Ashburnham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Chicopee | Ashburnham | Springfield | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
6,415Lowest |
154,749Highest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+3.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
40.7±6.3 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| Chicopee and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.6%±6 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Ashburnham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$118,809±$11kHighest 14% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$53,605±$3k 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$390,700±$34kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$274,100±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,807±$1kHighest about the MA average |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Ashburnham and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 36% below MA |
$6,046Highest about the MA average |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ashburnham and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
6.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
96%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashburnham and Holyoke 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #178 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Ashburnham-Westminster | Springfield | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | None in town | Springfield Central High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.2 |
12.5Highest |
| 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.