Compare towns

Springfield vs Chicopee vs Lynn

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 affordable homes ($245k median).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldChicopeeLynn
People
Population
154,749Highest
55,295Lowest
101,709
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
36.5±1.2
9% below MA
Kids under 18
24.2%±0.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Lynn 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%
19.5%±1.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
20.5%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
22.9%
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$75,043±$3kHighest
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$510,100±$23kHighest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,722±$60Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$3,847
36% below MA
$5,384Highest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Lynn 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%
17.3%
MA: 10%
13.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952
12 yrs older than MA
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
1946Lowest
18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
31% below MA
21 min
27% below MA
32 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Springfield and Chicopee 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 #247 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Chicopee Lynn
High school in town Springfield Central High Chicopee Comprehensive High School Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
11.2Lowest
15.0Highest
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.