What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairhaven has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Fairhaven	Holyoke
People
Population	15,903Lowest	37,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	48.5±3.4Highest 21% above MA	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	16.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.9%±2.9Highest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%
	Holyoke and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$95,965±$19kHighest 8% below MA	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$446,700±$19kHighest 21% below MA	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,118±$79Highest 37% below MA	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA
	Fairhaven and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,566Lowest 40% below MA	$4,065Highest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.1%±14Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest MA: 10%	27%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	74.4%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest about the MA average	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	11.4%±3.3Highest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Fairhaven and Holyoke 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	#126 of 282 in MA	#281 of 282 in MA
School district	Fairhaven	Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town	Fairhaven High	Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.