Compare towns
Holyoke vs Needham vs Easthampton
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 renters (58.7% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Easthampton has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Needham | Easthampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 37,813Highest |
32,459 |
16,086Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
46±2.6Highest 15% above MA |
| Easthampton and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.5%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Easthampton 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
38% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.1%±1.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Easthampton and Needham 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 |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$71,673±$7k 31% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$371,500±$15k 34% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,292±$70 27% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,932 18% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 27%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
58.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
28 minHighest 5% below MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19%±3.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #281 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #92 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Needham | Easthampton |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Needham High | Easthampton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.9 |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.