Compare towns
Springfield vs North Reading vs Chicopee vs Lynn
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 affordable homes ($245k median).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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 | North Reading | Chicopee | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
15,765Lowest |
55,295 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43±2.8Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| North Reading 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 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4 MA: 19.4% |
| Springfield and Lynn 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% |
16.7%±2 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and North Reading 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% |
56.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$147,768±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$710,500±$24kHighest 26% above MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,259±$356Highest 28% above MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,722±$60 about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$9,693Highest 62% above MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
75.5%±25.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1 MA: 51.8% |
| North Reading and Lynn 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% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% MA: 62.5% |
84.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
48.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
26.1%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #33 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | North Reading | Chicopee | Lynn |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | North Reading High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.1Lowest |
11.2 |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.