Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Chicopee
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).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Plainfield | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
15,141Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
37±4.5 5% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Chicopee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chicopee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and Plainfield 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. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Plainfield 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 | #131 of 149 in CT | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Plainfield School District | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Plainfield High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.