What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).

Tyngsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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	Chelmsford	Tyngsborough
People
Population	36,446Highest	12,550Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.9Highest 4% above MA	39.4±2.9Lowest about the MA average
	Chelmsford and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	23.6%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Tyngsborough and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.1%±1.5Highest MA: 17.9%	14.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Chelmsford and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	51.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%	8.1%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Tyngsborough and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,629±$8kHighest 35% above MA	$129,348±$18kLowest 24% above MA
	Chelmsford and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,700±$17kHighest 6% above MA	$552,500±$34kLowest about the MA average
	Chelmsford and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,062±$151Highest 17% above MA	$1,986±$404Lowest 13% above MA
	Chelmsford and Tyngsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,047Highest 34% above MA	$7,426Lowest 24% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	72.2%±22.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	Tyngsborough and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%	6.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	86.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1987Highest 23 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% below MA	24 minLowest 17% below MA
Work from home	22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	18.6%±5.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chelmsford and Tyngsborough 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	#79 of 282 in MA	#174 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelmsford	Greater Lowell Regional Vocational Technical · Tyngsborough
High school in town	Chelmsford High	Gr Lowell Regional Vocational Technical
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.