Compare towns
Springfield vs Dalton vs Chicopee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).
Dalton has the most people working from home (12.5%).
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 | Dalton | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
6,256Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Dalton 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% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$79,438±$8kHighest 24% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$295,700±$26kHighest 47% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Dalton and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
| 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 38% below MA |
$4,276Highest 29% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| 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 MA: 10% |
7.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1957 7 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
22 minHighest 24% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Central Berkshire | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Wahconah Regional High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.9Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.