Compare towns

Chicopee vs Holyoke vs Upton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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.

MeasureChicopeeHolyokeUpton
People
Population
55,295Highest
37,813
8,189Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
MA: +7.4%
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.9±1.4
5% above MA
40±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
46.4±4.8Highest
16% above MA
Upton 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%
21.4%±1.9
MA: 19.4%
23.2%±4.5Highest
MA: 19.4%
Upton and Holyoke 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%
20.1%±1.6
MA: 17.9%
20.7%±4.9Highest
MA: 17.9%
Upton 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%
25.9%
MA: 47.3%
53.5%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
2.4%±1.3Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Chicopee and Holyoke 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
$53,605±$3kLowest
48% below MA
$155,508±$33kHighest
50% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,500±$8k
51% below MA
$274,100±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$576,700±$41kHighest
about the MA average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,157±$50Highest
34% below MA
$1,021±$60
42% below MA
$948±$599Lowest
46% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,847Lowest
36% below MA
$4,065
32% below MA
$8,376Highest
40% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52%±5.6
MA: 51.8%
51.7%±5.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
52.8%±31Highest
MA: 51.8%
Upton 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%
27%Highest
MA: 10%
3.2%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
55.7%
MA: 62.5%
41.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
86.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1958
6 yrs older than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1981Highest
17 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 min
27% below MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
35 minHighest
22% above MA
Work from home
8%±1.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
22.8%±5.3Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #247 of 282 in MA #281 of 282 in MA #46 of 282 in MA
School district Chicopee Holyoke · Springfield Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton
High school in town Chicopee Comprehensive High School Holyoke High Blackstone Valley
Students per teacherat that high school
11.2Lowest
12.5Highest
11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.