Compare towns

Chicopee vs Webster vs Pittsfield

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.9%).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (10.2%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeWebsterPittsfield
People
Population
55,295Highest
12,228Lowest
43,457
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
+6.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-1.8%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
37.2±2.1Lowest
7% below MA
42.4±2Highest
6% above MA
Pittsfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.2%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
21.8%±3.6Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.6%±1.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Webster and Chicopee 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%
15.7%±2.5Lowest
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%
MA: 47.3%
18.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
34.2%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
6%±1.8
MA: 7.9%
6.2%±1.1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Pittsfield and Webster 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
$63,837±$8k
39% below MA
$70,582±$5kHighest
32% below MA
Pittsfield and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$333,100±$14kHighest
41% below MA
$256,900±$8kLowest
54% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,198±$85Highest
32% below MA
$1,134±$61Lowest
36% below MA
Webster and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847
36% below MA
$3,234Lowest
46% below MA
$4,148Highest
31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
46.1%±7.4Lowest
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%
16%
MA: 10%
14.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
45.5%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
62.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
1954
10 yrs older than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
28 minHighest
5% below MA
19 minLowest
36% below MA
Work from home
8%±1.8
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±2.9Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.2%±2.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Pittsfield 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 #271 of 282 in MA #251 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee — Pittsfield
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School — 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.