What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	37,813Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	44±2.6Highest 10% above MA
	Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holyoke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	41.7%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Douglas 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	$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$470,600±$29kHighest 16% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA
	Douglas and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA	$6,338Highest 6% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%	33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	4.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	34 minHighest 16% above MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#281 of 282 in MA	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Douglas
High school in town	Holyoke High	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.