What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).

Dudley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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	Dudley
People
Population	37,813Highest	11,929Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	40.2±2.4Highest about the MA average
	Dudley 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%	20.6%±3.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Dudley 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%	16.9%±3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holyoke and Dudley 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%	24.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	13.1%±2Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA	$84,604±$12kHighest 19% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$392,600±$19kHighest 30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,217±$182Highest 31% below MA
	Dudley and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Highest 32% below MA	$3,691Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%	47.4%±4.1Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Dudley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	6.4%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1967Highest 3 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	27 minHighest 6% below MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	9.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Dudley 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	#142 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Dudley-Charlton Reg
High school in town	Holyoke High	Shepherd Hill Regional High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	14.3Highest
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.