Compare towns
Chelsea vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most homeowners (49.6%).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Holyoke has the oldest population (median age 40).
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 | Springfield | Everett | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 39,908 |
154,749Highest |
50,045 |
37,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.9% MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 34.4±1.3 14% below MA |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% 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% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Springfield 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% |
13.2%±0.7 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.2% MA: 47.3% |
20.5%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% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Springfield and Everett 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 |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3k 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 |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$274,100±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,956±$96 11% above MA |
$1,144±$55 35% below 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 |
$3,695 38% 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% |
57.7%±3.1 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 20.7% MA: 10% |
25.8% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1941 23 yrs older than MA |
1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.4%±2.2 MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest 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 | #276 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chelsea | Springfield | Everett | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chelsea High | Springfield Central High | Everett High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
12.2 |
12.1Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.