Compare towns
Springfield vs Dudley 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 the most kids (24.2% under 18).
Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Dudley | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
11,929Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
40.2±2.4 about the MA average |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
| Chicopee and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Dudley 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% |
16.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Dudley 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 MA: 47.3% |
24.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Dudley and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695 38% below MA |
$3,691Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,847Highest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.4%±4.1Lowest 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% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
27 minHighest 6% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dudley 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 | #142 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Dudley-Charlton Reg | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Shepherd Hill Regional High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
14.3Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.