Compare towns
Chicopee vs Acton vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chicopee has the most renters (44.3% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Chicopee | Acton | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
24,155Lowest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Acton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$158,230±$14kHighest 52% above MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
35 minHighest 19% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Acton-Boxborough | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.