What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most people working from home (11.1%).

Chicopee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

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	Chicopee
People
Population	37,813Lowest	55,295Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+0.5%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA
	Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Chicopee 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%	19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holyoke and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	3.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9%
	Chicopee 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	$62,615±$6kHighest 40% below MA
	Chicopee and Holyoke 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	$274,500±$8kHighest 51% below MA
	Chicopee and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,157±$50Highest 34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Highest 32% below MA	$3,847Lowest 36% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8%
	Chicopee 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%	17.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	55.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	21 minHighest 27% below MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Chicopee 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	#247 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Chicopee
High school in town	Holyoke High	Chicopee Comprehensive High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.2Lowest
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.