What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most homeowners (55.7%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	55,295Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA	32.6±0.9Lowest 19% below MA
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	26.3%±1.6Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±0.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	16.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,615±$6kHighest 40% below MA	$60,433±$3kLowest 42% below MA
	Chicopee and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$415,200±$23kHighest 26% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$1,662±$50Highest 6% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Highest 36% below MA	$3,422Lowest 43% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	60.6%±3.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lawrence and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	17.3%Lowest MA: 10%	17.6%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	28.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	23 minHighest 21% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Highest MA: 18.6%	6.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Chicopee and Lawrence 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	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	Lawrence
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	13.6Highest
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.