What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most homeowners (41.3%).

Chelsea has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.9%).

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	Holyoke	Chelsea
People
Population	37,813Lowest	39,908Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+15.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Highest about the MA average	34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4%
	Chelsea and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9%	10.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chelsea and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA	$72,179±$8kHighest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$493,500±$24kHighest 12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,956±$96Highest 11% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Highest 32% below MA	$3,321Lowest 45% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chelsea and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	20.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	26%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1941Lowest 23 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Chelsea 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	#281 of 282 in MA	#280 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Chelsea
High school in town	Holyoke High	Chelsea High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.1Highest
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.