What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Chicopee	Dudley
People
Population	55,295Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA	40.2±2.4Lowest about the MA average
	Chicopee and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Chicopee and Dudley 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%	24.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA
	Dudley and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Highest 36% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chicopee and Dudley 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%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	27 minHighest 6% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	14.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.