What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).

Enfield has the most homeowners (75.7%).

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	Enfield
People
Population	37,813Lowest	41,090Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average	40.7±1.9Highest 5% above U.S.
	Enfield 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 U.S.: 22%	18.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Holyoke and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holyoke and Enfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	31.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Enfield 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 34% below U.S.	$90,404±$5kHighest 12% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kHighest 18% below U.S.	$252,900±$7kLowest 24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,574±$83Highest 11% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 30% above U.S.	$5,360Highest 72% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.7%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holyoke and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	75.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1963Highest 17 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	24 minHighest 11% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.5%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Enfield and Holyoke 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	#123 of 149 in CT
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Capitol Region Education Council · Enfield School District
High school in town	Holyoke High	Enfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.