Compare towns
Holyoke vs Putnam vs Plainfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Putnam has the oldest population (median age 43.7).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (73.6%).
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 | Putnam | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 37,813Highest |
9,292Lowest |
15,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — |
| Median age | 40±1.6 about the U.S. average |
43.7±3Highest 12% above U.S. |
37±4.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Putnam and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Holyoke and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holyoke and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20% U.S.: 35.7% |
15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Plainfield and Putnam 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 34% below U.S. |
$70,561±$7k 13% below U.S. |
$76,993±$8kHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$269,200±$11kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$272,100±$16k 18% below U.S. |
| Holyoke and Plainfield 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. |
$1,149±$44 19% below U.S. |
$1,204±$70Highest 15% below U.S. |
| Plainfield and Putnam are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065 30% above U.S. |
$3,860Lowest 24% above U.S. |
$4,209Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.7%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.8%±9.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Holyoke and Plainfield 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% |
11.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1961 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holyoke and Plainfield 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 | #128 of 149 in CT | #131 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Putnam School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Putnam High School | Plainfield High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
9.5Lowest |
10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.