Compare towns
Easthampton vs Lowell 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%).
Lowell has the most expensive homes ($429k median).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | Lowell | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086Lowest |
118,368Highest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell and Holyoke 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
30% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9 MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Lowell and Easthampton 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 |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932Highest 18% below MA |
$4,499 25% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Lowell | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | Lowell High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
14.8Highest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.