Compare towns
Easthampton vs Dedham vs Holyoke vs Hadley
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Hadley has the most people working from home (20.1%).
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 | Easthampton | Dedham | Holyoke | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
25,237 |
37,813Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
45.8±7.1 15% above MA |
| Easthampton and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38% MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hadley 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$119,259±$12k 15% above MA |
| Dedham and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$511,000±$43k 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,402±$132 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
29 minHighest about the MA average |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley and Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Dedham | Holyoke · Springfield | Hadley |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Dedham High | Holyoke High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8 |
10.4 |
12.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| 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.