Compare towns
Springfield vs Plainfield vs Chicopee vs West Springfield Town
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).
West Springfield Town has the most expensive homes ($322k median).
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 | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
15,141Lowest |
55,295 |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% 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. |
40.1±2.6 3% above U.S. |
| Chicopee and West Springfield Town 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%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest 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% |
17.5%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chicopee and West Springfield Town 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%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% |
5.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Springfield and West Springfield Town 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. |
$69,371±$7k 14% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and West Springfield Town are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
$321,500±$16kHighest 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
$1,144±$68Lowest 19% 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. |
$4,209 35% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
$4,380Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52%±5.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.1%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Springfield 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% |
11.9% 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% |
58.5% 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. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 23% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| West Springfield Town and Plainfield 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 | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Plainfield School District | Chicopee | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Plainfield High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
10.3Lowest |
11.2 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.