Compare towns
Holyoke vs Dedham vs Everett vs Chicopee
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Dedham has the most people working from home (20%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Dedham | Everett | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 37,813 |
25,237Lowest |
50,045 |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.6 about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Dedham and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Everett and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 27%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1956 8 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #281 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Dedham | Everett | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Dedham High | Everett High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.1 |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.