Compare towns
Chicopee vs Everett vs Berlin vs West Springfield Town
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 most affordable homes ($275k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
West Springfield Town has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Everett | Berlin | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
50,045 |
3,378Lowest |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Chicopee 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$69,371±$7k 33% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$321,500±$16k 43% below MA |
| Berlin and Everett 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 |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$68Lowest 35% below MA |
| Berlin and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$4,380 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| West Springfield Town and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Everett | Berlin-Boylston | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Everett High | None in town | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.