Compare towns
Boston vs Everett vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boston has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Boston | Everett | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 666,442Highest |
50,045 |
37,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.3±0.2Lowest 17% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40±1.6Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.1%±0.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±0.3 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 15%±0.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,344±$2kHighest 6% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $731,700±$10kHighest 30% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,147±$25Highest 22% above MA |
$2,076±$69 18% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Boston and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,456 26% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.2%±1.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.6% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 35.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1947 17 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 21.3%±0.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #258 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers: A Horace Mann · Boston | Everett | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Boston Latin School | Everett High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 18.7Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.