Compare towns
Springfield vs Woonsocket 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 most affordable homes ($245k median).
Woonsocket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Woonsocket | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 154,749Highest |
43,521Lowest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
35.7±1.3 8% below U.S. |
41.9±1.4Highest 8% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±2 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Springfield and Woonsocket 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% |
14.7%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$61,059±$5k 24% below U.S. |
$62,615±$6kHighest 22% below U.S. |
| Chicopee and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$311,000±$15kHighest 7% below U.S. |
$274,500±$8k 17% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,161±$48Highest 18% below U.S. |
$1,157±$50 18% below U.S. |
| Woonsocket and Chicopee 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. |
$3,960Highest 27% above U.S. |
$3,847 23% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.7%±3.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.7%±5.4Lowest 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% |
18.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Highest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
21 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.4%±0.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.4%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Springfield and Chicopee 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 | #37 of 38 in RI | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Springfield | RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Springfield Central High | Woonsocket High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2 |
15.2Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| 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.