Compare towns
Ashby vs Chicopee vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.9%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Ashby | Chicopee | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
55,295Highest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 26% above MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Ashby and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 11% above MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kHighest 31% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Highest 32% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Ashby and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034Highest about the MA average |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Ashby and Holyoke 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Chicopee | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.