Compare towns
Everett vs Chicopee vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Everett | Chicopee | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045 |
55,295Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
43.1±4.9Highest 8% above MA |
| Lancaster and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Lancaster and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #264 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Chicopee | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Everett High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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| 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.