Compare towns

Chicopee vs Springfield vs Suffield vs West Springfield Town

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Suffield has the most people working from home (18.4%).
West Springfield Town 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.

MeasureChicopeeSpringfieldSuffieldWest Springfield Town
People
Population
55,295
154,749Highest
15,702Lowest
28,772
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+1.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
8% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
44.5±1.7Highest
14% above U.S.
40.1±2.6
3% above U.S.
Suffield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±2.3
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
17.5%±1.7
U.S.: 17.2%
Chicopee and Suffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
34%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.4%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.7%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and West Springfield Town 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
22% below U.S.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
$119,472±$13kHighest
48% above U.S.
$69,371±$7k
14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
17% below U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
$407,500±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$321,500±$16k
3% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
18% below U.S.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,424±$141Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,144±$68Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
23% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$6,456Highest
107% above U.S.
$4,380
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1
U.S.: 51.1%
51%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.1%±9.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
West Springfield Town and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
58.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1958
22 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
19% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
26 minHighest
3% below U.S.
19 minLowest
27% below U.S.
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9
U.S.: 15.1%
18.4%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.4%±2.4
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA #57 of 149 in CT #218 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Springfield Suffield School District West Springfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Springfield Central High Suffield High School West Springfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
12.2
10.9Lowest
13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.