What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).

Plainville has the most homeowners (67.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Holyoke	Plainville
People
Population	37,813Highest	17,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average	44.3±1.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	15.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.1%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	30%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,605±$3kLowest 34% below U.S.	$84,343±$7kHighest 4% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kHighest 18% below U.S.	$254,000±$14kLowest 24% below U.S.
	Holyoke and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,126±$147Highest 20% below U.S.
	Plainville and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 30% above U.S.	$4,798Highest 54% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.3%±12.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holyoke and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	6.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	67.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	21 minHighest 20% below U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Holyoke and Plainville 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	#89 of 149 in CT
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Judicial Centers · Plainville School District
High school in town	Holyoke High	Plainville High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.