What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fitchburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).

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.

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

Measure	Fitchburg	Holyoke
People
Population	41,798Highest	37,813Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	36.3±2Lowest 9% below MA	40±1.6Highest about the MA average
Kids under 18	20.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$73,040±$5kHighest 30% below MA	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$336,400±$11kHighest 40% below MA	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,222±$89Highest 31% below MA	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,456Highest 26% below MA	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.9%±5.3Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Fitchburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.6%Lowest MA: 10%	27%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	54.1%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950 14 yrs older than MA	1950 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest 7% below MA	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	10.3%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Fitchburg 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	#249 of 282 in MA	#281 of 282 in MA
School district	Fitchburg · Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical	Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town	Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical	Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.9Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.