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Living in
Chicopee.
About
Life in Chicopee
Chicopee offers a real shot at affordability in the Northeast—median home values sit around $275,000 and median rents are under $1,100, which goes a long way compared to surrounding areas. The city has genuine character shaped by its Polish, French-Canadian, and Latino communities, with anchors like the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus and annual events like the World Kielbasa Festival giving neighborhoods their own identities. Commutes average just over 21 minutes, and you're positioned well for access to Springfield Armory and the New England National Scenic Trail.
Chicopee at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.3%
Foreign-Born
9.5%
Broadband Internet
88.3%
of households
Population Growth
-0.5%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.5% foreign-born, most often from Poland
Who lives in Chicopee: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chicopee, the largest foreign-born group is from Poland (19.8%), and 15.0% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.2%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.3%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.3%
of households
Married Couples
31.2%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 34% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Chicopee
In Chicopee, rent runs 34% below the MA average, and home values are 51% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
48.4%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,847
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
55.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1958
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.1%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $319,956 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.9 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Chicopee
Unemployment in Chicopee is 0.9 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Chicopee Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute21.3 min avg
How Chicopee residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chicopee, most residents drive alone to work (78%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 15 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 83 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 46% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Chicopee runs 46% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
481.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,407.1
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Chicopee Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hampden County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hampden County, which includes Chicopee, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,900 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,400 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $98,800 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $67,700 |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $158,800 |
| 2020 | 34 | Strong Wind | $349,700 |
| 2019 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $564,700 |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $151,400 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hampden County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hampden County, which includes Chicopee, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
79
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hampden County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chicopee has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
50.3"
Annual Snowfall
47.5"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
137
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 16°F | 2.75" |
| Feb | 38°F | 17°F | 2.60" |
| Mar | 47°F | 26°F | 3.43" |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 4.06" |
| May | 72°F | 46°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 80°F | 55°F | 4.37" |
| Jul | 85°F | 61°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 83°F | 59°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 75°F | 51°F | 4.60" |
| Oct | 63°F | 39°F | 4.72" |
| Nov | 51°F | 30°F | 3.47" |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 3.58" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chicopee
Uninsured
3.4%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chicopee's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Miravista Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric · 3.2 mi away · Holyoke
Holyoke Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 3.3 mi away · Holyoke
Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric · 3.4 mi away · Holyoke
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education11.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chicopee
Chicopee's student/teacher ratio is 11.2:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
16
within city limits
Private Schools
3
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
11.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Chicopee
College of Our Lady of the Elms
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 949 students · in-state tuition $44,626 · 76% graduate · median earnings $64,534 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
14.7 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 23,671 students · in-state tuition $18,487 · 81% graduate · median earnings $80,486 (10 yrs after entry)
Springfield Technical Community College
4.7 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,759 students · in-state tuition $6,004 · 37% graduate · median earnings $45,410 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 3,615 students · in-state tuition $12,616 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 3,591 students · in-state tuition $6,090 · 27% graduate · median earnings $44,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Western New England University
5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,603 students · in-state tuition $49,490 · 66% graduate · median earnings $81,107 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,544 students · in-state tuition $67,448 · 90% graduate · median earnings $69,936 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Springfield Armory National Historic Site, 5 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chicopee
Chicopee has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Springfield Armory National Historic Site (5 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Springfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
5 mi awayNew England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
8 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
38 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
64 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
64 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
66 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
67 mi awayPublic Libraries in Chicopee
Chicopee Public Library
449 Front St., Chicopee
Fairview Branch Library
373 Britton Street, Chicopee
Cities Near Chicopee
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chicopee?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chicopee FAQ
Is Chicopee, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Chicopee's median rent is $1,157/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $62,615/year. Median home value is $274,500.
Is Chicopee, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Chicopee's violent crime rate was 482 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1407 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chicopee, Massachusetts?⌄
Chicopee has an unemployment rate of 5.4%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chicopee, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Chicopee is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,157/month and median household income is $62,615/year. The median home value is $274,500. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chicopee, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Chicopee is 21 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from