Compare towns
Chelsea vs Fall River 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).
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 | Fall River | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 39,908 |
94,082Highest |
37,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
40±1.6Highest about the MA average |
| Holyoke and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Holyoke 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% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Chelsea and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA |
$56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$3,953 34% below MA |
$4,065Highest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% MA: 10% |
19.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
35.3% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Chelsea 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | B M C Durfee High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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.