Compare towns
Springfield vs Brookfield vs Chicopee vs Lowell
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 kids (24.2% under 18).
Brookfield has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Brookfield | Chicopee | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
3,460Lowest |
55,295 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
52.4±2.1Highest 31% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
35.6±0.8 11% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
28.4%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
28.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±3.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$81,250±$37kHighest 22% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$78,658±$4k 24% below MA |
| Brookfield and Lowell 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 |
$341,900±$23k 39% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,014±$161Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$5,092Highest 15% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
50.7%±11.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Lowell 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% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
87.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12%±5.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
| Brookfield and Lowell 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 | #109 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Brookfield | Chicopee | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.