Compare towns
Chicopee vs Everett vs Sturbridge vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Sturbridge has the most people working from home (19.8%).
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 | Everett | Sturbridge | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
50,045 |
9,960Lowest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.5% MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
47.2±2.6Highest 18% above MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.7%±3 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Sturbridge 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% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.8%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
49.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Pittsfield 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 |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$136,759±$15kHighest 32% above MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$425,800±$18k 24% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,193±$398 32% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$6,520Highest 9% above MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
42%±17.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Pittsfield 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% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
35 min 20% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±4.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #89 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Everett | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Everett High | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.1Highest |
7.7Lowest |
9.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.