Compare towns
Springfield vs Chaplin vs Putnam
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 most kids (24.2% under 18).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
Putnam has the most expensive homes ($269k median).
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 | Chaplin | Putnam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
2,070Lowest |
9,292 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.7±4.8Highest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chaplin and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
25.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
10.1%±6.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chaplin and Springfield 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. |
$97,846±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$255,200±$24k 23% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kHighest 19% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,473±$275Highest 4% above U.S. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,524Highest 45% above U.S. |
$3,860 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±10Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chaplin and Putnam 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 | — | #128 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Springfield | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 | Putnam School District |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Parish Hill High School | Putnam High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
7.5Lowest |
9.5 |
| 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.