Compare towns
Springfield vs Bow vs Chicopee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bow | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
8,335Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chicopee and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chicopee and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Bow School District | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Bow High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
12.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.