Compare towns
Worcester vs Sutton vs Chicopee vs West Boylston
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 highest household income ($147k).
Chicopee has the most affordable homes ($275k median).
West Boylston has the oldest population (median age 45.5).
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 | West Boylston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 207,055Highest |
9,452 |
55,295 |
7,782Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.9±0.5Lowest 15% below MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
45.5±2.7Highest 14% above MA |
| West Boylston and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±0.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
16.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 13.3%±0.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
25.8%±3.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.1%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
2.8%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$104,551±$12k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $374,400±$7k 33% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$274,500±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$440,000±$24k 22% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,487±$38Highest 16% below MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,157±$50Lowest 34% below MA |
$1,261±$154 28% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,733 21% below MA |
$6,763Highest 13% above MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,115 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±2.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
29.9%±12.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Worcester and Chicopee 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% |
6.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 42.8%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
77.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 13 yrs older than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 17% below MA |
30 minHighest about the MA average |
21 minLowest 27% below MA |
25 min 14% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.5%±1 MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.7%±4.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton and West Boylston 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 | #266 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #97 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester | Sutton | Chicopee | West Boylston |
| High school in town | South High Community | Sutton High School | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | West Boylston Junior/Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.6Highest |
12.6 |
11.2 |
10.6Lowest |
| 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.