Compare towns

Chicopee vs Dedham vs Mansfield

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 affordable homes ($275k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureChicopeeDedhamMansfield
People
Population
55,295Highest
25,237
23,931Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.6%
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
44.6±1.6Highest
12% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
Dedham and Chicopee 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%
18.6%±1.9Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
21.9%±2Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Dedham and Chicopee 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%
55%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.6%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
Dedham and Mansfield 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
$128,955±$10kHighest
24% above MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
Dedham and Mansfield 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
$661,800±$16kHighest
18% above MA
$603,500±$28k
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$2,042±$182Highest
16% above MA
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Lowest
36% below MA
$7,918Highest
32% above MA
$7,226
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±10Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Dedham 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%
5.6%
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.4%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1956Lowest
8 yrs older than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
27% below MA
29 min
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±2.7Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #119 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Dedham Mansfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Dedham High Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
10.4Lowest
11.1
On TownTapestry
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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.