What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Mansfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Mansfield
People
Population	37,813Highest	23,931Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+2.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	41.4±1.3Highest 4% above MA
	Mansfield and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Mansfield 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%	15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	51.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%
	Mansfield 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	$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA	$7,226Highest 21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%	38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.1%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#281 of 282 in MA	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Mansfield
High school in town	Holyoke High	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.1Lowest
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.