What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northbridge	Chicopee
People
Population	16,458Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
	Northbridge and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Northbridge and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9%
	Chicopee and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Northbridge and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Highest 31% below MA	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA
	Northbridge and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Highest 20% below MA	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chicopee and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Lowest MA: 10%	17.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	21 minLowest 27% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#226 of 282 in MA	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	Chicopee
High school in town	Northbridge High	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.