Compare towns

Mansfield vs Chicopee vs Norton

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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.

MeasureMansfieldChicopeeNorton
People
Population
23,931
55,295Highest
19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3
4% above MA
41.9±1.4Highest
5% above MA
39.6±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
Chicopee and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.2%±1.7
MA: 19.4%
17.3%±2.3Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Mansfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
19.5%±1.4Highest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
Chicopee and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
22.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
45.8%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
3.7%±0.6Lowest
MA: 7.9%
12.9%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
$62,615±$6kLowest
40% below MA
$124,535±$11k
20% above MA
Mansfield and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$274,500±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$501,400±$27k
11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
$1,157±$50Lowest
34% below MA
$1,911±$375Highest
8% above MA
Norton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$3,847Lowest
36% below MA
$5,929
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52%±5.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
46.6%±8.9
MA: 51.8%
Chicopee and Norton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
17.3%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
55.7%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
1958Lowest
6 yrs older than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
21 minLowest
27% below MA
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19%±3.2
MA: 18.6%
Mansfield and Norton 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 #60 of 282 in MA #247 of 282 in MA #173 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Chicopee Norton
High school in town Mansfield High Chicopee Comprehensive High School Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1
11.2Highest
10.9Lowest
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.