Compare towns
Everett vs Holyoke vs Townsend
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%).
Holyoke has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).
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 | Holyoke | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 50,045Highest |
37,813 |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average |
| Townsend 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% |
21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21%±3.2Lowest 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% |
20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.1%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Holyoke and Townsend 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% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
35.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$433,200±$22k 23% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,469±$313 17% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,880 19% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,031Highest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
8.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
82%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 20% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
37 minHighest 27% above MA |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Everett | Holyoke · Springfield | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Everett High | Holyoke High | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.5 |
13.1Highest |
| 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.