Compare towns

Springfield vs Weweantic vs Chicopee vs Lowell

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).
Weweantic has the most homeowners (88.7%).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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.

MeasureSpringfieldWeweanticChicopeeLowell
People
Population
154,749Highest
1,452Lowest
55,295
118,368
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.9%
MA: +7.4%
+0.2%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+8.5%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±0.5Lowest
16% below MA
44.4±13.9Highest
11% above MA
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
35.6±0.8
11% below MA
Weweantic 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%
11.2%±7.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
21.7%±1.3
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
13.2%±0.7
MA: 17.9%
17.3%±6.9
MA: 17.9%
19.5%±1.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
12.6%±0.8Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Chicopee and Weweantic 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%
30.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.9%
MA: 47.3%
30%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±0.5
MA: 7.9%
10.1%±8.5Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
9.7%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Weweantic and Lowell 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
$62,481±$39k
40% below MA
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$78,658±$4kHighest
24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$245,000±$4kLowest
56% below MA
$420,800±$42k
25% below MA
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$429,200±$11kHighest
24% below MA
Lowell and Weweantic are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,144±$55Lowest
35% below MA
—
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,625±$40Highest
8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,695Lowest
38% below MA
$3,764
37% below MA
$3,847
36% below MA
$4,499Highest
25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.7%±3.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
0%±100Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
52.4%±3.8
MA: 51.8%
Springfield and Lowell 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%
0%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.3%
MA: 10%
16.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
49.6%
MA: 62.5%
88.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
43.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1952Lowest
12 yrs older than MA
1973Highest
9 yrs newer than MA
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1953
11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 minLowest
31% below MA
22 min
24% below MA
21 min
27% below MA
28 minHighest
4% below MA
Work from home
8.4%±0.9
MA: 18.6%
3.6%±3.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8
MA: 18.6%
10.6%±1.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Lowell 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 — #247 of 282 in MA #255 of 282 in MA
School district Springfield — Chicopee Lowell
High school in town Springfield Central High — Chicopee Comprehensive High School Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.2
—
11.2Lowest
14.8Highest
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.