Compare towns
Chelsea 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
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Chelsea | Everett | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908 |
50,045Highest |
37,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
40±1.6Highest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 31% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96 11% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 23 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Everett 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 | #280 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Everett | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Everett High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.5 |
| 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.