Compare towns
Holyoke vs Lowell vs Chicopee
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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Chicopee has the most homeowners (55.7%).
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.
| Measure | Holyoke | Lowell | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 37,813Lowest |
118,368Highest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.6 about the MA average |
35.6±0.8Lowest 11% below MA |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
| Chicopee 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee 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% |
30%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
9.7%±0.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$78,658±$4kHighest 24% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$429,200±$11kHighest 24% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,625±$40Highest 8% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065 32% below MA |
$4,499Highest 25% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.4%±3.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Lowell and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 27%Highest MA: 10% |
16.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
43.2% MA: 62.5% |
55.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1953 11 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
28 minHighest 4% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.6%±1.3 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Holyoke and Lowell 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Lowell | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Lowell High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
14.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.