Compare towns
Springfield vs Danielson vs Chicopee vs Brockton
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 renters (50.4% rent).
Danielson has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
Brockton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.6%).
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 | Danielson | Chicopee | Brockton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
4,209Lowest |
55,295 |
105,386 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
34.5±3.6 11% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
36.7±0.8 6% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
25.3%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brockton and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
11.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.2%±6.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Danielson 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. |
$64,050±$15k 21% below U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$80,115±$3kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Brockton and Danielson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4k 26% below U.S. |
$224,600±$13kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$437,500±$8kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,235±$194 13% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
$1,641±$52Highest 16% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,009 29% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$4,820Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.7%±17.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Brockton 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% |
21.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
53% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1960Highest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #279 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | — | Chicopee | Brockton |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | — | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Brockton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
17.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.