Compare towns
Chicopee vs Chelsea vs Springfield
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).
Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
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 | Chelsea | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295 |
39,908Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 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+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Chelsea 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 |
$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Highest 36% below MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 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 | 17.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
20.7% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Chelsea | Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Chelsea High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
12.2 |
| 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.