The Town FilesChicopee, Massachusetts
City in Hampden County · population 55,560 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,500
- Household income
- $62,615
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 44 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 18
- Median age
- 41.9
Chicopee is a city of 55,560 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $274,500, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more walkable than 89% of Massachusetts towns, more vibrant than 86% of Massachusetts towns, easier by car than 81% of Massachusetts towns.
How Chicopee ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Chicopee is worth $274,500, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 4.4 times the median household income of $62,615, which is more affordable than 57% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,157 a month. 55.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Chicopee | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,500 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,157 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $62,615 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.4× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 55.7% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1958 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Chicopee
| People | Chicopee | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41.9 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.5% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 19.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 17.3% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 6.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 8.0% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 21.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 88.3% | 93.9% |
Weather in Chicopee
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 44.3 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chicopee since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 5.1 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 202 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 50 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Chicopee itself the ACS puts it at 6.3%.
Public schools in Chicopee
16 public schools with 7,360 students, about 11.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicopee Comprehensive High School | 9-12 | 1,212 | 11.9 |
| Chicopee High | 9-12 | 932 | 11.9 |
| Bellamy Middle | 6-8 | 817 | 10.3 |
| Dupont Middle | 6-8 | 678 | 9.0 |
| Hampden Charter School of Science East (charter) | 6-12 | 553 | 11.8 |
| Bowe | K-5 | 418 | 13.1 |
| Gen John J Stefanik | K-5 | 391 | 12.6 |
| Fairview Elementary | PK-5 | 365 | 11.1 |
| Barry | K-5 | 362 | 12.1 |
| Litwin | K-5 | 344 | 11.9 |
| Bowie | PK-5 | 291 | 11.2 |
| Szetela Early Childhood Center | PK-PK | 240 | 16.0 |
Towns near Chicopee
- Holyoke, MA4.4 mi · 38,238 people · home $274,100
- Springfield, MA4.6 mi · 155,929 people · home $245,000
- West Springfield Town, MA5.4 mi · 28,835 people · home $321,500
- South Hadley, MA5.5 mi · 18,150 people · home $357,900
- Ludlow, MA5.8 mi · 21,002 people · home $335,300
- Granby, MA5.9 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- Wilbraham, MA7.5 mi · 4,003 people · home $400,300
- Wilbraham, MA7.9 mi · 14,613 people · home $416,000
Chicopee questions
Is Chicopee, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Chicopee scores better for retirees than 6% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 9%. 19.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 41.9).
How much does a house cost in Chicopee?
The median owner-occupied home in Chicopee is valued at $274,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,615, so homes cost about 4.4 times income. Median rent is $1,157 a month.
What is the weather like in Chicopee?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 44.3 inches of snow.
Does Chicopee get tornadoes?
18 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Chicopee since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)