Compare towns
Chicopee vs Sterling 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).
Sterling has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
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.
| Measure | Chicopee | Sterling | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
8,183Lowest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA |
51.5±1.8Highest 29% above MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chicopee and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
22.9%±4Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Sterling 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% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.8%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Pittsfield and Sterling 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 |
$129,063±$27kHighest 24% above MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$498,800±$48kHighest 11% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,699±$161Highest 4% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,757Highest 13% above MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
46%±23.1Lowest 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% |
6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
34 minHighest 18% above MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Sterling 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 | #135 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Wachusett | 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.