Compare towns
Athol vs Chicopee vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Chicopee has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Warren has the most expensive homes ($334k 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 | Athol | Chicopee | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,801 |
55,295Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.8±3.3Lowest 8% below MA |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
38.7±7.3 3% below MA |
| Chicopee and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.2%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8 MA: 19.4% |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Athol and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,394±$8kHighest 35% below MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$66,082±$6k 36% below MA |
| Athol and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $248,700±$15kLowest 56% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$333,700±$35kHighest 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,120±$173 36% below MA |
$1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Chicopee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,170Lowest 47% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$4,530Highest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.2%±17.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Athol and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21%Highest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63.7% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1940Lowest 24 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1975Highest 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 10% below MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 9.7%±3.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Athol and Warren 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 | #256 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Chicopee | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | — | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.