Compare towns
Holyoke vs Everett vs South Hadley vs Fall River
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
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%).
South Hadley has the most homeowners (77%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
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.
| Measure | Holyoke | Everett | South Hadley | Fall River |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 37,813 |
50,045 |
17,754Lowest |
94,082Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.8% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.6 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
42.6±2.6Highest 7% above MA |
39.3±1.2 about the MA average |
| South Hadley and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±1.2 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%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.1%±0.9 MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley 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% MA: 47.3% |
24.9% MA: 47.3% |
50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
16.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$93,910±$15kHighest 10% below MA |
$56,673±$3k 45% below MA |
| South Hadley and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$357,900±$19k 36% below MA |
$395,500±$11k 30% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,325±$54 25% below MA |
$1,155±$27 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065 32% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,500Highest 8% below MA |
$3,953Lowest 34% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.5%±3.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Everett and Fall River 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% MA: 10% |
7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
19.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
37.2% MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
35.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
1945 19 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
24 min 19% below MA |
26 min 11% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| South Hadley 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA | #262 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Everett | South Hadley | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Everett High | South Hadley High | B M C Durfee High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.1 |
8.6Lowest |
11.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.