Compare towns

Chicopee vs Springfield vs Webster

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).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeSpringfieldWebster
People
Population
55,295
154,749Highest
12,228Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
37.2±2.1
7% below MA
Kids under 18
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±3.6
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±2.5
MA: 17.9%
Chicopee and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%
MA: 47.3%
18.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
6%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
Springfield and Webster 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
$63,837±$8kHighest
39% below MA
Webster 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
$333,100±$14kHighest
41% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,198±$85Highest
32% below MA
Webster and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Highest
36% below MA
$3,695
38% below MA
$3,234Lowest
46% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
46.1%±7.4Lowest
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%
16%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
45.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1954
10 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%±1.8
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Springfield and Chicopee 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 #271 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Springfield —
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Springfield Central High —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
12.2Highest
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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.