What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k 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.

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

Measure	Beverly	Chicopee
People
Population	42,665Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA
	Chicopee and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Chicopee and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Chicopee and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Highest 14% above MA	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Lowest MA: 10%	17.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 3% above MA	21 minLowest 27% below MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#144 of 282 in MA	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Chicopee
High school in town	Beverly High	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	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.