Compare towns
Springfield vs Ware vs Chicopee vs West Springfield Town
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).
Ware has the most homeowners (72.3%).
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 | Ware | Chicopee | West Springfield Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
10,048Lowest |
55,295 |
28,772 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
40.1±2.6 about the MA average |
| Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
18.9%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
17.5%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware 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% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
34%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.7%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| 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 49% below MA |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$69,371±$7kHighest 33% below MA |
| West Springfield Town and Ware 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 |
$289,700±$28k 48% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$321,500±$16kHighest 43% below MA |
| West Springfield Town and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55 35% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$1,144±$68 35% below MA |
| 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 38% below MA |
$4,237 29% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$4,380Highest 27% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.1%±9.1 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and West Springfield Town 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% |
11.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
11.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
58.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 31% below MA |
28 minHighest about the MA average |
21 min 27% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Ware and West Springfield Town 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 | #267 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #218 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | Ware | Chicopee | West Springfield |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | West Springfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.