Compare towns
Chicopee vs Otis vs Springfield vs Ludlow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Ludlow has the shortest commute (20 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 | Otis | Springfield | Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
1,624Lowest |
154,749Highest |
20,904 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
51±3.2Highest 28% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.3±1.8 11% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
15.1%±4.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
28%±3.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.8%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% MA: 47.3% |
39.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$108,898±$6kHighest 5% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$396,700±$40kHighest 29% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,318±$924Highest 25% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,223±$82 31% below MA |
| Otis and Ludlow 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 |
$2,408Lowest 60% below MA |
$3,695 38% below MA |
$4,918Highest 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
63.3%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±9.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Otis 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% |
1.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
6.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1964 same as MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Otis and Ludlow 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | #154 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Farmington River Reg | Springfield | Ludlow |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | None in town | Springfield Central High | Ludlow Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 12.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.