What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most kids (21.4% under 18).

Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

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	Easthampton
People
Population	37,813Highest	16,086Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3%	38%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9%
	Easthampton 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	$71,673±$7kHighest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,292±$70Highest 27% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA	$4,932Highest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	22 minHighest 23% below MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#281 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Easthampton
High school in town	Holyoke High	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	9.8Lowest
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.