Compare towns

Springfield vs Stoneham 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 youngest population (median age 33.7).
Stoneham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.4%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldStonehamChicopee
People
Population
154,749Highest
23,355Lowest
55,295
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+8.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
42.2±2.2Highest
6% above MA
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
Stoneham 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%
20.8%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Springfield and Stoneham 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%
20.4%±2.2Highest
MA: 17.9%
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
Stoneham 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
MA: 47.3%
55.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.7%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$52,656±$2kLowest
49% below MA
$113,964±$10kHighest
10% above MA
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$671,900±$26kHighest
20% above MA
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
$2,035±$142Highest
15% above MA
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$6,523Highest
9% above MA
$3,847
36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
41.9%±8.2Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
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
MA: 10%
5.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.3%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
71%Highest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1964Highest
same as MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
31% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
21 min
27% below MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
24.6%±3.6Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #276 of 282 in MA #117 of 282 in MA #247 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield Stoneham Chicopee
High school in town Springfield Central High Stoneham High Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2Highest
10.7Lowest
11.2
On TownTapestry
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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.