What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Springfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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.

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

Measure	Holyoke	Springfield
People
Population	37,813Lowest	154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+1.9%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40±1.6Highest about the MA average	33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%	24.2%±0.9Highest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9%	13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%	20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$53,605±$3kHighest 48% below MA	$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA
	Holyoke and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kHighest 51% below MA	$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA	$1,144±$55Highest 35% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Highest 32% below MA	$3,695Lowest 38% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%	57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8%
	Springfield 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%	25.8%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%	49.6%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA	1952Highest 12 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 34% below MA	20 minHighest 31% below MA
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%	8.4%±0.9Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Springfield 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	#276 of 282 in MA
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Springfield
High school in town	Holyoke High	Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	12.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.