Compare towns
Easthampton vs Buzzards Bay vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).
Buzzards Bay has the highest household income ($94k).
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 | Easthampton | Buzzards Bay | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
2,909Lowest |
37,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6 15% above MA |
54.4±5.9Highest 36% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Buzzards Bay and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
6.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
32.3%±5.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38%Highest MA: 47.3% |
29.6% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
8.9%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Buzzards Bay and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$94,388±$12kHighest 9% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$454,500±$28kHighest 19% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,484±$601Highest 16% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Buzzards Bay and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$3,405Lowest 43% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
37.9%±20.3Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Holyoke and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
7.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
75.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±6.3 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Easthampton and Buzzards Bay 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 | #92 of 282 in MA | — | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | — | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | — | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 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.