What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

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	Hampstead
People
Population	55,295Highest	9,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S.	45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S.
	Hampstead and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hampstead and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hampstead 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 U.S.: 35.7%	44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampstead 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 22% below U.S.	$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.	$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,299±$149Highest 8% below U.S.
	Hampstead and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S.	$8,634Highest 177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Chicopee and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#247 of 282 in MA	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Chicopee	Hampstead School District
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.