What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holyoke	Everett
People
Population	37,813Lowest	50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Highest about the MA average	35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.8%±2.1Highest 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%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9%	11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA	$85,218±$7kHighest 18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA	$4,880Highest 19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8%
	Everett and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	14.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Highest MA: 62.5%	37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Highest 14 yrs older than MA	1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	35 minHighest 20% above MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Everett 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	#264 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Everett
High school in town	Holyoke High	Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	12.1Lowest
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.