Compare towns
Worcester vs Sutton vs Chicopee vs Lynn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
Sutton has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
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 | Worcester | Sutton | Chicopee | Lynn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,452Lowest |
55,295 |
101,709 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+12.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
36.5±1.2 9% below MA |
| Sutton and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±1.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
13.7%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Chicopee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $70,102±$2k 33% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$62,615±$6kLowest 40% below MA |
$75,043±$3k 28% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$510,100±$23k 9% below MA |
| Sutton and Lynn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,722±$60Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$5,384 10% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9 MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
60%±4.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Lynn and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 19.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
13.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
48.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1946Lowest 18 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
32 minHighest 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8 MA: 18.6% |
7.9%±1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #277 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Chicopee | Lynn |
| High school in town | South High Community | Sutton High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Lynn English High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6 |
12.6 |
11.2Lowest |
15.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.