What stands out worked out from the figures below

Scituate has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).

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	Scituate	Chicopee
People
Population	19,365Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±3.1Highest 18% above MA	41.9±1.4Lowest 5% above MA
Kids under 18	22.2%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Scituate and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.2%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%	19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Scituate and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	66.8%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Scituate and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$136,732±$16kHighest 32% above MA	$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$847,600±$25kHighest 51% above MA	$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,609±$311Highest 9% below MA	$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,807Highest 47% above MA	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.7%±10.3Highest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Scituate and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	2.9%Lowest MA: 10%	17.3%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.8%Highest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1960Highest 4 yrs older than MA	1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	38 minHighest 31% above MA	21 minLowest 27% below MA
Work from home	28%±4Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#43 of 282 in MA	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	Scituate	Chicopee
High school in town	Scituate High School	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.2Lowest
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.