Compare towns

Chicopee vs Taunton vs Springfield

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).
Taunton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).

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.

MeasureChicopeeTauntonSpringfield
People
Population
55,295Lowest
60,433
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
38.9±1.3
about the MA average
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Kids under 18
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±1.8
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Taunton 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%
15%±1.2
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
22.9%
MA: 47.3%
23.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±0.7
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$79,283±$7kHighest
24% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$422,800±$9kHighest
25% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,324±$86Highest
25% below MA
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
36% below MA
$4,344Highest
28% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
56.8%±5.9
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Springfield and Taunton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
MA: 10%
13%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
62.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1965Highest
1 yr newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
29 minHighest
about the MA average
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9Highest
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 #253 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton Springfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Taunton High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
16.6Highest
12.2
On TownTapestry
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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.