Compare towns

Chicopee vs Heath 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).
Heath has the most people working from home (31.7%).
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.

MeasureChicopeeHeathWest Springfield Town
People
Population
55,295Highest
765Lowest
28,772
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.6%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
53.8±11.9Highest
35% above MA
40.1±2.6Lowest
about the MA average
Heath and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±1.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
13.1%±2.8Lowest
MA: 19.4%
18.9%±2.3
MA: 19.4%
Chicopee and West Springfield Town 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%
33.6%±8.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.5%±1.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
46.8%Highest
MA: 47.3%
34%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.3%±2.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.7%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,615±$6kLowest
40% below MA
$98,750±$23kHighest
5% below MA
$69,371±$7k
33% below MA
Heath and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$295,000±$45k
48% below MA
$321,500±$16kHighest
43% below MA
West Springfield Town and Heath 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
—
$1,144±$68Lowest
35% below MA
Chicopee and West Springfield Town 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
$4,438Highest
26% below MA
$4,380
27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
40%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60.1%±9.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
West Springfield Town and Chicopee 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%
6.6%Lowest
MA: 10%
11.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
88.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.5%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
35 minHighest
20% above MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
31.7%±17.1Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.4%±2.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA — #218 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee — West Springfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School — West Springfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
—
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.