What stands out worked out from the figures below

Saugus has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).

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	Saugus	Chicopee
People
Population	28,773Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.5%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	44.5±2.5Highest 11% above MA	41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
	Saugus and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	22%±2.1Highest MA: 17.9%	19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Saugus and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	31.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,539±$3kHighest about the MA average	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$603,400±$13kHighest 7% above MA	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,241±$201Highest 27% above MA	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,049Highest about the MA average	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53%±9.2Highest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Saugus and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Lowest MA: 10%	17.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.5%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1962Highest 2 yrs older than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest about the MA average	21 minLowest 27% below MA
Work from home	14.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#194 of 282 in MA	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	—	Chicopee
High school in town	—	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
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.