Compare towns
Chicopee vs Springfield vs Sutton vs Pittsfield
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 most kids (24.2% under 18).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.4%).
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 | Springfield | Sutton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
154,749Highest |
9,452Lowest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Sutton 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 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% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$256,900±$8k 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,190±$401Highest 32% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Pittsfield 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% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Springfield | Sutton | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | Sutton High School | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.2 |
12.6Highest |
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.