What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most homeowners (55.7%).

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

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	Chicopee	Chelsea
People
Population	55,295Highest	39,908Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA	34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest 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	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA	$72,179±$8kHighest 31% 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	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Highest 36% below MA	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.4%±5.1Highest 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	17.3%Lowest MA: 10%	20.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±2.2Highest 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	#247 of 282 in MA	#280 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	Chelsea
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Chelsea High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	13.1Highest
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.