Compare towns

Easthampton vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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.

MeasureEasthamptonTownsendHolyoke
People
Population
16,086
9,100Lowest
37,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
40.9±3.3
about the MA average
40±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
Easthampton and Townsend 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%
21%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
21.4%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
Holyoke and Townsend 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%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
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%
35.5%
MA: 47.3%
25.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
3.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
Easthampton and Townsend 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
$121,528±$23kHighest
17% above MA
$53,605±$3kLowest
48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$371,500±$15k
34% below MA
$433,200±$22kHighest
23% below MA
$274,100±$8kLowest
51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,292±$70
27% below MA
$1,469±$313Highest
17% below MA
$1,021±$60Lowest
42% below MA
Townsend and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,932
18% below MA
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,065Lowest
32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
51.7%±5.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
Holyoke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8%Lowest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
27%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
82%Highest
MA: 62.5%
41.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
23% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
19 minLowest
34% below MA
Work from home
19%±3.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
11.1%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #92 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA #281 of 282 in MA
School district Easthampton North Middlesex Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town Easthampton High North Middlesex Regional Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school
9.8Lowest
13.1Highest
12.5
On TownTapestry
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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.