What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelmsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).

Wilmington has the highest household income ($168k).

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	Wilmington
People
Population	36,446Highest	23,336Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±1.9Lowest 4% above MA	42.3±2.2Highest 6% above MA
	Wilmington and Chelmsford 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%	23.1%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Wilmington 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%	15.6%±1.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Chelmsford and Wilmington 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%	50.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	4.1%±1.1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Chelmsford and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$140,629±$8kLowest 35% above MA	$168,152±$19kHighest 62% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$593,700±$17kLowest 6% above MA	$680,500±$19kHighest 21% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,062±$151Lowest 17% above MA	$2,394±$328Highest 36% above MA
	Wilmington and Chelmsford 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	$7,704Lowest 29% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±10Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.9%±2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Wilmington and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.7%Highest MA: 10%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	88.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA	1979Highest 15 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% below MA	30 minHighest 4% above MA
Work from home	22.8%±2.3Highest MA: 18.6%	19.7%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chelmsford and Wilmington 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	#73 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelmsford	Wilmington
High school in town	Chelmsford High	Wilmington High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.0Highest	9.1Lowest
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.