Compare towns
Chicopee vs Everett vs Northbridge vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Northbridge has the most people working from home (16.2%).
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 | Everett | Northbridge | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
50,045 |
16,458Lowest |
154,749Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
| Northbridge and Chicopee 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% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Northbridge 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Everett 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 36% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
7.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Everett | Northbridge | Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Everett High | Northbridge High | Springfield Central High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1 |
10.8Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| 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.