Compare towns
Springfield vs Stafford 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 youngest population (median age 33.7).
Stafford has the highest household income ($93k).
Chicopee has the most expensive homes ($275k 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 | Stafford | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
11,511Lowest |
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. |
46.7±4.8Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.9±1.4 8% above U.S. |
| Stafford 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stafford 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% |
28.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$93,235±$16kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$62,615±$6k 22% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$263,800±$22k 21% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8kHighest 17% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Stafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 19% below U.S. |
$1,086±$85Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50Highest 18% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Springfield 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. |
$5,131Highest 65% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.5%±12.2Lowest 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% |
7.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stafford 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 | #96 of 149 in CT | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Stafford School District | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Stafford High School | 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 |
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.