What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most people working from home (11.1%).

Southbridge Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Southbridge Town
People
Population	37,813Highest	17,928Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average	40.9±2.4Highest about the MA average
	Southbridge Town 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%	21.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4%
	Southbridge Town 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%	14.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	19.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
	Southbridge Town 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	$66,287±$8kHighest 36% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA	$294,800±$18kHighest 48% below MA
	Southbridge Town and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,256±$79Highest 29% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA	$4,400Highest 27% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	55.8%±8.3Highest MA: 51.8%
	Southbridge Town 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%	15.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	42.7%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	28 minHighest about the MA average
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	4.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#281 of 282 in MA	#282 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Southbridge
High school in town	Holyoke High	Southbridge High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	9.8Lowest
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.