Compare towns

Chicopee vs Mendon vs Springfield vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Upton has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeMendonSpringfieldUpton
People
Population
55,295
6,325Lowest
154,749Highest
8,189
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
44.1±4.4
10% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Upton and Mendon 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%
22.8%±6.2
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Upton 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%
14.7%±3.4
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Upton and Chicopee 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%
46.9%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
6.8%±2.5
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Springfield and Mendon 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
$132,256±$33k
27% above MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Upton and Mendon 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
$616,000±$37kHighest
10% above MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$576,700±$41k
about the MA average
Mendon and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,840±$196Highest
4% above MA
$1,144±$55
35% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
36% below MA
$7,213
20% above MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
78.7%±26Highest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31
MA: 51.8%
Mendon and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
MA: 10%
7.1%
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
86.9%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1985Highest
21 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1981
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
30 min
4% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
15.1%±5.7
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Upton and Mendon 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 #210 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Mendon-Upton Springfield Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School None in town Springfield Central High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
—
12.2Highest
11.2Lowest
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.