Compare towns
Chicopee vs Somerville 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 the most homeowners (55.7%).
Somerville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Holyoke has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Somerville | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 55,295 |
81,036Highest |
37,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% MA: +7.4% |
+7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
31.9±0.6Lowest 20% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
9.8%±0.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
10%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee 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% |
69.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
12.8%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
$132,572±$6kHighest 28% above MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
$911,300±$26kHighest 62% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,157±$50 34% below MA |
$2,517±$64Highest 43% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
$6,186Highest 3% above MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
36.2%±2.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.3% MA: 10% |
9.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
34.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 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% |
31.3%±2.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #247 of 282 in MA | #225 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Chicopee | Somerville | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Chicopee Comprehensive High School | Somerville High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
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.