Compare towns
Springfield vs Dunbarton vs Chicopee vs Lowell
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).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
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 | Dunbarton | Chicopee | Lowell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
3,097Lowest |
55,295 |
118,368 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48±3.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$124,348±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$484,100±$33kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,166±$70 17% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$8,233Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$4,499 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.7%±60.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Springfield and Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dunbarton and Lowell 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #247 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Dunbarton School District | Chicopee | Lowell |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Lowell High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
| 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.