Compare towns
Chicopee vs Needham 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
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Pittsfield 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.
| Measure | Chicopee | Needham | Springfield | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
32,459Lowest |
154,749Highest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Needham and Pittsfield 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$256,900±$8k 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 36% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1965Highest 1 yr newer 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 |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Needham | Springfield | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Needham High | Springfield Central High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.9 |
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.