Compare towns
Springfield vs Salem 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).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Chicopee has the most homeowners (55.7%).
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 | Salem | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
44,795Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
39.3±1.5 about the MA average |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
| Chicopee and Salem 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Salem 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% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Salem and Springfield 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 49% below MA |
$85,153±$5kHighest 18% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,114Highest about the MA average |
$3,847 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Salem 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% |
12.1%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.7% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #276 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Salem | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Salem High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.