Compare towns
Chicopee vs Becket vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Becket | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295 |
1,962Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
49.6±4.7Highest 24% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
15.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Becket 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% |
45.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$80,417±$29kHighest 23% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Becket and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$361,000±$82kHighest 36% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Becket and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$2,107±$1kHighest 20% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Becket and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Highest 36% below MA |
$3,047Lowest 49% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
100%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Becket 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% |
12.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
98.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Becket 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | — | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Central Berkshire | Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | None in town | 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 |
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.