Compare towns

Chicopee vs Middleton 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 the most renters (44.3% rent).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Pittsfield has the shortest commute (19 min average).

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.

MeasureChicopeeMiddletonPittsfield
People
Population
55,295Highest
9,816Lowest
43,457
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+8.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-1.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4Lowest
5% above MA
43.1±2Highest
8% above MA
42.4±2
6% above MA
Middleton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±1.7Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.2%±3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
17.6%±1.4
MA: 19.4%
Chicopee and Pittsfield 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%
18.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.4%±1.5
MA: 17.9%
Chicopee and Pittsfield 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%
41.7%Highest
MA: 47.3%
34.2%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
3.9%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Pittsfield and Middleton 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
$167,402±$29kHighest
61% above MA
$70,582±$5k
32% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$742,700±$48kHighest
32% above MA
$256,900±$8kLowest
54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,407±$284Highest
20% below MA
$1,134±$61Lowest
36% below MA
Middleton and Chicopee 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
$8,785Highest
47% above MA
$4,148
31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
25.7%±25.3Lowest
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%Highest
MA: 10%
3.4%Lowest
MA: 10%
14.9%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
92.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
62.8%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1986Highest
22 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
30 minHighest
3% above MA
19 minLowest
36% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
12.5%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.2%±2.2
MA: 18.6%
Middleton 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 #71 of 282 in MA #251 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Middleton Pittsfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School None in town Taconic High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Highest
—
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.