Compare towns
Chicopee vs Dudley 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).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Holyoke has the most people working from home (11.1%).
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 | Dudley | Springfield | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
11,929Lowest |
154,749Highest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| Chicopee and Dudley 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% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±3 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% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$53,605±$3k 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$274,100±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Dudley 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 |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,065Highest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%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 |
1967Highest 3 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 |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Dudley 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Springfield | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Springfield Central High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
14.3Highest |
12.2 |
12.5 |
| 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.