Compare towns
Holyoke vs Northampton 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 most renters (58.7% rent).
Northampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Chicopee has the oldest population (median age 41.9).
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.
| Measure | Holyoke | Northampton | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 37,813 |
30,962Lowest |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
41.3±2.2 3% above MA |
41.9±1.4Highest 5% above MA |
| Chicopee and Northampton 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% |
16%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.4%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Northampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
62.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
14%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$80,288±$6kHighest 23% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$429,700±$17kHighest 24% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,439±$75Highest 18% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065 32% below MA |
$5,680Highest 5% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.6%±6.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Northampton 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% |
13.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
57.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1955 9 yrs older than MA |
1958Highest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
21 minHighest 26% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
24.1%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #281 of 282 in MA | #159 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Northampton · Northampton-Smith Vocational Agricultural | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Northampton High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
14.7Highest |
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.