Compare towns
Springfield vs Athol vs Chicopee
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 renters (50.4% rent).
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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.
| Measure | Springfield | Athol | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,801Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
36.8±3.3 8% below MA |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
15%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
21.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$67,394±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Athol and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$248,700±$15k 56% below MA |
$274,500±$8kHighest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,120±$173Lowest 36% below MA |
$1,157±$50Highest 34% 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 | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,847Highest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
21% MA: 10% |
17.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
63.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
26 minHighest 10% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Athol 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #256 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.