Compare towns
Everett vs Hardwick vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Hardwick has the most homeowners (68.2%).
Holyoke has the shortest commute (19 min average).
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 | Everett | Hardwick | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
2,684Lowest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±9.8Highest 13% above MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| Hardwick and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
20.5%±5.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.7%±5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
| Hardwick and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
30.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.2%±4.4 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
$75,000±$22k 28% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Everett and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$346,700±$67k 38% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,108±$119 37% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880Highest 19% below MA |
$4,400 27% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
59%±13.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hardwick and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
11%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968Highest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 20% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Everett 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #163 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Quabbin | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | Everett High | None in town | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 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.