Compare towns
Chicopee vs Gardner 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
Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Gardner | Springfield | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
21,148Lowest |
154,749Highest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| Gardner 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% |
18.3%±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holyoke and Gardner 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% |
23.8% 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% |
4.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$53,605±$3k 48% below MA |
| Gardner 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 |
$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$274,100±$8k 51% below MA |
| Gardner and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$1,109±$51 37% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Chicopee and Springfield 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 |
$4,150Highest 31% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
49.7%±8.6Lowest 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% |
13.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1954 10 yrs older 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 |
31 minHighest 5% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Gardner and Holyoke 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 | #273 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Gardner | Springfield | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Gardner High | Springfield Central High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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.