What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the shortest commute (19 min average).

Gardner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.2%).

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	Gardner
People
Population	37,813Highest	21,148Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA
	Gardner 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%	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Gardner 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%	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Holyoke and Gardner 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%	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner 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	$67,518±$8kHighest 35% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$301,600±$20kHighest 46% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,109±$51Highest 37% below MA
	Gardner and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA	$4,150Highest 31% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%	49.7%±8.6Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	13.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	58.9%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1954Highest 10 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	31 minHighest 5% above MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	13.3%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Gardner
High school in town	Holyoke High	Gardner High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Lowest	13.5Highest
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.