Compare towns
Chicopee vs Sutton vs Worcester vs Pittsfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Sutton | Worcester | Pittsfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 55,295 |
9,452Lowest |
207,055Highest |
43,457 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-1.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
42.4±2 6% above MA |
| Sutton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.6%±1.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
13.3%±0.6Lowest 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% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
35.2% MA: 47.3% |
34.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$70,582±$5k 32% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$256,900±$8kLowest 54% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,134±$61Lowest 36% below MA |
| Worcester and Sutton 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 |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$4,733 21% below MA |
$4,148 31% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±5.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
14.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
62.8% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
24 min 17% below MA |
19 minLowest 36% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
10.2%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA | #251 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Sutton | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Pittsfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Sutton High School | South High Community | Taconic High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
12.6 |
14.6Highest |
9.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.