What stands out worked out from the figures below

Athol has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).

Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Athol	Chicopee
People
Population	12,011Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.3±1.9Lowest 3% above MA	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA
	Chicopee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.8%±3.2Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Athol and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Chicopee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	20.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chicopee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,316±$5kHighest 33% below MA	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA
	Athol and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$268,100±$13kLowest 52% below MA	$274,500±$8kHighest 51% below MA
	Chicopee and Athol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,150±$182Lowest 35% below MA	$1,157±$50Highest 34% 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	$3,403Lowest 43% below MA	$3,847Highest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.5%±17.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Lowest 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	16.3%Lowest MA: 10%	17.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	72.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 8% below MA	21 minLowest 27% below MA
Work from home	10.6%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Athol 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	#256 of 282 in MA	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	Athol-Royalston	Chicopee
High school in town	Athol High	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.