Compare towns

Chicopee vs Hanson vs Taunton

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).
Hanson has the highest household income ($132k).
Taunton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeHansonTaunton
People
Population
55,295
10,660Lowest
60,433Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+4.2%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
42.8±3Highest
7% above MA
38.9±1.3Lowest
about the MA average
Hanson 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
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±3.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
21.6%±1.8Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
19.5%±1.4
MA: 17.9%
19.7%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15%±1.2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hanson 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%
42.6%Highest
MA: 47.3%
23.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.8%±2.2Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.6%±0.7
MA: 7.9%
Hanson and Taunton 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
$132,200±$10kHighest
27% above MA
$79,283±$7k
24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$533,900±$36kHighest
5% below MA
$422,800±$9k
25% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$1,821±$860Highest
3% above MA
$1,324±$86
25% below MA
Hanson and Taunton 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
$6,402Highest
7% above MA
$4,344
28% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
69%±33.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
56.8%±5.9
MA: 51.8%
Hanson and Taunton 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%
2.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
13%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
89%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1972Highest
8 yrs newer than MA
1965
1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
27% below MA
34 minHighest
15% above MA
29 min
about the MA average
Work from home
8%±1.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±2.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #149 of 282 in MA #253 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Whitman-Hanson Bristol-Plymouth Regional Vocational Technical · Taunton
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Whitman Hanson Regional Taunton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
14.7
16.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.