Compare towns
Springfield vs Chicopee vs Plainville
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).
Chicopee has the most expensive homes ($275k median).
Plainville has the highest household income ($84k).
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 | Chicopee | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
55,295 |
17,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Plainville and Chicopee 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% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Plainville 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. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8kHighest 17% below U.S. |
$254,000±$14k 24% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,126±$147Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$4,798Highest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.4Lowest 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% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 19% below U.S. |
21 min 20% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainville 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #89 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Springfield | Chicopee | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Plainville High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.