What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).

Chicopee has the most homeowners (55.7%).

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	Chelsea	Chicopee
People
Population	39,908Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Chelsea and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA
	Chelsea and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA	$3,847Highest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chelsea and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	20.7%Highest MA: 10%	17.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	21 minLowest 27% below MA
Work from home	10.4%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chelsea 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	#280 of 282 in MA	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	Chelsea	Chicopee
High school in town	Chelsea High	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	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.