Compare towns

Fall River vs Chicopee vs Lynn

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).

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.

MeasureFall RiverChicopeeLynn
People
Population
94,082
55,295Lowest
101,709Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
36.5±1.2Lowest
9% below MA
Chicopee and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±1.2
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7Lowest
MA: 19.4%
24.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
Age 65+
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
19.5%±1.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
13.7%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
22.9%
MA: 47.3%
24.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,673±$3kLowest
45% below MA
$62,615±$6k
40% below MA
$75,043±$3kHighest
28% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$510,100±$23kHighest
9% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,155±$27Lowest
34% below MA
$1,157±$50
34% below MA
$1,722±$60Highest
about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,953
34% below MA
$3,847Lowest
36% below MA
$5,384Highest
10% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
19.6%Highest
MA: 10%
17.3%
MA: 10%
13.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
48.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
1958Highest
6 yrs older than MA
1946
18 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
11% below MA
21 minLowest
27% below MA
32 minHighest
8% above MA
Work from home
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1
MA: 18.6%
Chicopee and Lynn 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 #262 of 282 in MA #247 of 282 in MA #277 of 282 in MA
School district Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical Chicopee Lynn
High school in town B M C Durfee High Chicopee Comprehensive High School Lynn English High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3
11.2Lowest
15.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.