Compare towns
Chelsea vs Everett vs Hooksett vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,908 |
50,045Highest |
15,057Lowest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 12% below U.S. |
35.2±1.5 10% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
40±1.6 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holyoke and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8k 11% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$53,605±$3kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24k 48% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$274,100±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96 38% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,021±$60Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| 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 6% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,065 30% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±5.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
27%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
41.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 39 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #280 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Everett | Hooksett School District | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Everett High | None in town | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | 12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.