Compare towns

Holyoke vs Lynn 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 people working from home (11.1%).
Lynn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.1%).
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.

MeasureHolyokeLynnFall River
People
Population
37,813Lowest
101,709Highest
94,082
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+12.1%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+5.8%
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40±1.6Highest
about the MA average
36.5±1.2Lowest
9% below MA
39.3±1.2
about the MA average
Holyoke and Fall River 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%
24.1%±1.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
19.9%±1.2Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Lynn 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%
13.7%±0.9Lowest
MA: 17.9%
16.1%±0.9
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
24.1%
MA: 47.3%
16.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.4%±0.6Highest
MA: 7.9%
4.1%±0.6
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$53,605±$3kLowest
48% below MA
$75,043±$3kHighest
28% below MA
$56,673±$3k
45% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,100±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$510,100±$23kHighest
9% below MA
$395,500±$11k
30% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,021±$60Lowest
42% below MA
$1,722±$60Highest
about the MA average
$1,155±$27
34% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,065
32% below MA
$5,384Highest
10% below MA
$3,953Lowest
34% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.7%±5.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
60%±4.1Highest
MA: 51.8%
52.5%±3.3
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
27%Highest
MA: 10%
13.8%Lowest
MA: 10%
19.6%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.3%
MA: 62.5%
48.1%Highest
MA: 62.5%
35.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Highest
14 yrs older than MA
1946
18 yrs older than MA
1945Lowest
19 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
34% below MA
32 minHighest
8% above MA
26 min
11% below MA
Work from home
11.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
7.9%±1
MA: 18.6%
7.1%±1.2Lowest
MA: 18.6%
Holyoke and Lynn 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 #277 of 282 in MA #262 of 282 in MA
School district Holyoke · Springfield Lynn Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town Holyoke High Lynn English High B M C Durfee High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
15.0Highest
11.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.