Compare towns
Chicopee vs Springfield vs Wareham
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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Wareham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295 |
154,749Highest |
23,302Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
27.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Wareham 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 |
$90,383±$11kHighest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$424,500±$21kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847 36% below MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$4,341Highest 28% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Lowest 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% |
6.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Wareham 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 | #272 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Springfield | Wareham |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Springfield Central High | Wareham Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
| 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.