Compare towns
Chelsea vs Chicopee vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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.
| Measure | Chelsea | Chicopee | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908Lowest |
55,295 |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| Chicopee and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Chelsea and Fall River 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±$6k 40% below MA |
$56,673±$3kLowest 45% 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 |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,155±$27Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
$3,953Highest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Fall River 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% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Chicopee | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.