Compare towns
Fitchburg vs Lunenburg vs Chicopee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fitchburg has the youngest population (median age 36.3).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
Chicopee has the shortest commute (21 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 | Fitchburg | Lunenburg | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,798 |
11,902Lowest |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4% MA: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.3±2Lowest 9% below MA |
43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Lunenburg and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lunenburg and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
17.9%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.1% MA: 47.3% |
44%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.2%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $73,040±$5k 30% below MA |
$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,400±$11k 40% below MA |
$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$89 31% below MA |
$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456 26% below MA |
$6,401Highest 7% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.9%±5.3 MA: 51.8% |
45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.6% MA: 10% |
4.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 54.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
80.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 7% below MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.3%±2 MA: 18.6% |
15.8%±3.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lunenburg and Fitchburg 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 | #249 of 282 in MA | #87 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical | Lunenburg | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical | Lunenburg High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.9 |
12.4Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.