What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Melrose has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.5%).

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	Melrose
People
Population	55,295Highest	29,650Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+10.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	43.6±1.1Highest 9% above MA
	Melrose 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%	20.2%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Melrose 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 MA: 17.9%	20.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9%
	Melrose 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%	62%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Melrose 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 40% below MA	$133,953±$14kHighest 29% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$822,900±$20kHighest 46% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$1,970±$149Highest 12% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA	$7,578Highest 26% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%	50.3%±8.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Chicopee and Melrose 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%	3.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	67.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	35 minHighest 19% above MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	29.6%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#247 of 282 in MA	#62 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	Melrose
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Melrose High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	12.8Highest
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.