What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).

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	Needham
People
Population	55,295Highest	32,459Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA	43.1±1.6Highest 8% above MA
	Needham 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%	27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%	17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Chicopee and Needham 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%	81.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA	$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA	$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA	$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Needham 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%	3.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA	1965Highest 1 yr newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 27% below MA	28 minHighest 5% below MA
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#247 of 282 in MA	#19 of 282 in MA
School district	Chicopee	Needham
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Needham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.9Highest
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.