Compare towns
Chicopee vs Holyoke vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chicopee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Pittsfield has the most homeowners (62.8%).
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 | Holyoke | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
37,813Lowest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
42.4±2Highest 6% above MA |
| Pittsfield 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% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke 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% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Holyoke 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% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
34.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$70,582±$5kHighest 32% below MA |
| Pittsfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8kHighest 51% below MA |
$274,100±$8k 51% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,134±$61 36% below MA |
| Chicopee and Pittsfield 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 |
$4,065 32% below MA |
$4,148Highest 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Pittsfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
14.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 27% below MA |
19 min 34% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Pittsfield 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Holyoke · Springfield | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Holyoke High | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.5Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| 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.