Compare towns

Holyoke vs Southbridge Town vs Everett

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 shortest commute (19 min average).
Southbridge Town has the most homeowners (42.7%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).

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.

MeasureHolyokeSouthbridge TownEverett
People
Population
37,813
17,928Lowest
50,045Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+6.1%
MA: +7.4%
+17.8%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
40±1.6
about the MA average
40.9±2.4Highest
about the MA average
35.2±1.5Lowest
12% below MA
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%
21.8%±2.1
MA: 19.4%
Southbridge Town and Everett 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%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
11.3%±1.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
19.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
24.9%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.2%±1.4
MA: 7.9%
6.3%±0.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Everett and Southbridge Town 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±$8k
36% below MA
$85,218±$7kHighest
18% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,100±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$294,800±$18k
48% below MA
$610,000±$23kHighest
9% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,021±$60Lowest
42% below MA
$1,256±$79
29% below MA
$2,076±$69Highest
18% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,065Lowest
32% below MA
$4,400
27% below MA
$4,880Highest
19% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.7%±5.4Lowest
MA: 51.8%
55.8%±8.3
MA: 51.8%
56.4%±5.8Highest
MA: 51.8%
Everett and Southbridge Town 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%
MA: 10%
14.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.3%
MA: 62.5%
42.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
37.2%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950
14 yrs older than MA
1956Highest
8 yrs older than MA
1938Lowest
26 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
34% below MA
28 min
about the MA average
35 minHighest
20% above MA
Work from home
11.1%±2.5Highest
MA: 18.6%
4.8%±1.5Lowest
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2
MA: 18.6%
Holyoke and Everett 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 #282 of 282 in MA #264 of 282 in MA
School district Holyoke · Springfield Southbridge Everett
High school in town Holyoke High Southbridge High School Everett High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5Highest
9.8Lowest
12.1
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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.