Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lancaster vs Sutton 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 oldest population (median age 46).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Lancaster | Sutton | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,086 |
8,606Lowest |
9,452 |
37,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Easthampton and Sutton 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% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton and Holyoke 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% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Sutton 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster 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 |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Sutton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,190±$401 32% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Nashoba | Sutton | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | Sutton High School | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
12.5 |
| 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.