Compare towns

Chicopee vs Killingly vs Preston vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Killingly has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Preston has the highest household income ($117k).
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.

MeasureChicopeeKillinglyPrestonSpringfield
People
Population
55,295
17,867
4,821Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
— —
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
8% above U.S.
39.5±3
about the U.S. average
46.2±7Highest
19% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Preston 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
U.S.: 22%
19.8%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.7%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Killingly 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
22% below U.S.
$84,350±$8k
4% above U.S.
$116,648±$27kHighest
44% above U.S.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
Preston and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
17% below U.S.
$288,600±$15k
13% below U.S.
$361,900±$13kHighest
9% above U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
18% below U.S.
$1,044±$141Lowest
26% below U.S.
$1,433±$1kHighest
about the U.S. average
$1,144±$55
19% below U.S.
Preston and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$3,922
26% above U.S.
$4,749Highest
52% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
U.S.: 51.1%
42.8%±10.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.6%±12.5
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Springfield and Preston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1970Highest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
19% below U.S.
28 minHighest
6% above U.S.
22 min
16% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Killingly and Preston 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 #136 of 149 in CT #93 of 149 in CT #276 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS Preston School District Springfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Killingly High School None in town Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
11.1Lowest
—
12.2Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.