Compare towns
Holyoke vs Chelsea vs Everett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
Chelsea has the most renters (74% rent).
Everett has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
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 | Holyoke | Chelsea | Everett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 37,813Lowest |
39,908 |
50,045Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.9% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.6Highest about the MA average |
34.4±1.3Lowest 14% below MA |
35.2±1.5 12% below MA |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.4%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Chelsea and Everett 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% |
11.3%±1.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Chelsea 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±$8k 31% below MA |
$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$493,500±$24k 12% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,956±$96 11% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
| Everett and Chelsea are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065 32% below MA |
$3,321Lowest 45% below MA |
$4,880Highest 19% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.4%±5.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Chelsea and Everett 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% MA: 10% |
14.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
26%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA |
1941 23 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.4%±2.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #280 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Chelsea | Everett |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Chelsea High | Everett High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
13.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.