Compare towns
Chicopee vs Springfield vs Fitchburg
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 oldest population (median age 41.9).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Fitchburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Springfield | Fitchburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295 |
154,749Highest |
41,798Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
36.3±2 9% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
14.3%±1.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
7.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Fitchburg and Springfield 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$73,040±$5kHighest 30% below MA |
| Fitchburg and Chicopee 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$336,400±$11kHighest 40% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,222±$89Highest 31% below MA |
| Fitchburg and Chicopee 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 |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,456Highest 26% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
49.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
15.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
54.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older 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 |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 minHighest 7% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Fitchburg and Springfield 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 | #249 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Springfield | Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.