What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chicopee has the most kids (19.2% under 18).

Thompson has the most people working from home (13.1%).

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	Thompson
People
Population	55,295Highest	9,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	41.9±1.4Lowest 8% above U.S.	54.1±2.2Highest 39% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	19.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Thompson 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	21.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Chicopee and Thompson 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 22% below U.S.	$93,629±$18kHighest 16% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,500±$8kLowest 17% below U.S.	$291,900±$24kHighest 12% below U.S.
	Thompson and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,157±$50Highest 18% below U.S.	$1,012±$344Lowest 28% below U.S.
	Chicopee and Thompson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,847Highest 23% above U.S.	$3,822Lowest 23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54%±18.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Thompson 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 U.S.: 12.5%	5.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 19% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	13.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Thompson and Chicopee 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	#130 of 149 in CT
School district	Chicopee	Thompson School District
High school in town	Chicopee Comprehensive High School	Tourtellotte Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	7.9Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.