What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).

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	Lowell
People
Population	55,295Lowest	118,368Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA	35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Lowell and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	30%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA	$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA	$4,499Highest 25% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Lowell and Chicopee 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%	16.9%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	43.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1953Lowest 11 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	28 minHighest 4% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	10.6%±1.3Highest MA: 18.6%
	Lowell and Chicopee 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	#255 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	Lowell
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Lowell High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	14.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.