Compare towns
Chicopee vs Springfield vs Sturbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
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 | Sturbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295 |
154,749Highest |
9,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Sturbridge 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% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$425,800±$18kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,193±$398Highest 32% below MA |
| Sturbridge 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 |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Springfield | Sturbridge · Tantasqua |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.2Highest |
7.7Lowest |
| 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.