Compare towns
Chicopee vs Fall River vs Springfield vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (10.2%).
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 | Fall River | Springfield | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
94,082 |
154,749Highest |
43,457Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.4±2Highest 6% above MA |
| Pittsfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Pittsfield 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% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
20.5% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Pittsfield 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 |
$56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,582±$5kHighest 32% below MA |
| Pittsfield 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 |
$395,500±$11kHighest 30% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$256,900±$8k 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Chicopee and Fall River 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 |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,148Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1945Lowest 19 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
26 minHighest 11% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Pittsfield 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Springfield | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | B M C Durfee High | Springfield Central High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.3 |
12.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.