Compare towns
Easthampton vs Stow 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).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Stow | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,086 |
7,165Lowest |
37,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Easthampton and Stow 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% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow 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% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest 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% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Stow 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 |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$70 27% below MA |
$1,782±$126Highest about the MA average |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,932 18% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow 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% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 58.4% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 2 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #92 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Easthampton | Nashoba | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Easthampton High | None in town | 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.