Compare towns
Chicopee vs Hardwick vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chicopee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).
Hardwick has the most expensive homes ($347k median).
Holyoke has the most people working from home (11.1%).
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 | Chicopee | Hardwick | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295Highest |
2,684Lowest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hardwick and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$75,000±$22kHighest 28% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Hardwick and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$346,700±$67kHighest 38% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Hardwick and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Chicopee and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$4,400Highest 27% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7% MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958 6 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 27% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Hardwick 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 | #247 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Quabbin | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | None in town | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.5Highest |
| 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.