Compare towns

Chicopee vs Ware vs Warren vs Springfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ware has the most people working from home (12.3%).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k median).
Springfield has the most kids (24.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureChicopeeWareWarrenSpringfield
People
Population
55,295
10,048
5,009Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+2%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-3.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
43.1±4.7Highest
8% above MA
38.7±7.3
3% below MA
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
Ware 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
MA: 19.4%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
20.8%±8
MA: 19.4%
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
20.6%±3.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
14.6%±4.5
MA: 17.9%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Ware and Chicopee 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%
24%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.2%
MA: 47.3%
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±2.2
MA: 7.9%
2.9%±2.1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$67,475±$15kHighest
35% below MA
$66,082±$6k
36% below MA
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
Ware and Warren 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
$289,700±$28k
48% below MA
$333,700±$35kHighest
41% below MA
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
Warren and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50Highest
34% below MA
$1,043±$109
41% below MA
$890±$174Lowest
49% below MA
$1,144±$55
35% below MA
Chicopee and Springfield 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
$4,237
29% below MA
$4,530Highest
24% below MA
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
64.3%±16.2Highest
MA: 51.8%
29.7%±18.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
Ware and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
17.3%
MA: 10%
11.8%
MA: 10%
9%Lowest
MA: 10%
25.8%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
72.3%Highest
MA: 62.5%
64.5%
MA: 62.5%
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1960
4 yrs older than MA
1975Highest
11 yrs newer than MA
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
20 minLowest
31% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.3%±3.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
8.5%±5.4
MA: 18.6%
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
Ware and Warren 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 #267 of 282 in MA #165 of 282 in MA #276 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Ware Quaboag Regional Springfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Ware Junior/Senior High School Quaboag Regional High Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2
11.1
10.0Lowest
12.2Highest
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.