Compare towns
Springfield vs Stoneham vs Wakefield 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 the most homeowners (71%).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Stoneham | Wakefield | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
23,355Lowest |
27,793 |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
42.2±2.2 6% above MA |
42.4±1.7Highest 6% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Wakefield and Stoneham 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% |
20%±2.2 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%±1.9 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% MA: 47.3% |
59.7%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% |
4.4%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$113,964±$10k 10% above MA |
$134,306±$14kHighest 29% above MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Wakefield and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$671,900±$26k 20% above MA |
$723,500±$24kHighest 29% above MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$2,035±$142Highest 15% above MA |
$1,958±$102 11% above MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Stoneham and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$6,523 9% above MA |
$7,779Highest 30% 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% |
43.7%±7.9 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% MA: 10% |
4.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1964Highest same as MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
28 min 4% below MA |
33 minHighest 14% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
24.6%±3.1Highest 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 | #179 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 | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.