Compare towns

Holyoke vs Townsend vs Easthampton

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 most renters (58.7% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Easthampton has the most people working from home (19%).

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.

MeasureHolyokeTownsendEasthampton
People
Population
37,813Highest
9,100Lowest
16,086
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.1%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+2.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
—
Median age
40±1.6Lowest
about the MA average
40.9±3.3
about the MA average
46±2.6Highest
15% above MA
Easthampton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.4%±1.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
21%±3.2
MA: 19.4%
15.5%±2.4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
Holyoke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.1%±1.6
MA: 17.9%
17.1%±2.1Lowest
MA: 17.9%
23.9%±3Highest
MA: 17.9%
Easthampton and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
25.9%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
35.5%
MA: 47.3%
38%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±0.8Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.1%±2.4
MA: 7.9%
6.1%±1.9Highest
MA: 7.9%
Easthampton and Townsend 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
$121,528±$23kHighest
17% above MA
$71,673±$7k
31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$274,100±$8kLowest
51% below MA
$433,200±$22kHighest
23% below MA
$371,500±$15k
34% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,021±$60Lowest
42% below MA
$1,469±$313Highest
17% below MA
$1,292±$70
27% below MA
Townsend and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,065Lowest
32% below MA
$6,031Highest
about the MA average
$4,932
18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.7%±5.4Highest
MA: 51.8%
50.6%±16.8
MA: 51.8%
45.5%±10.7Lowest
MA: 51.8%
Holyoke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
27%Highest
MA: 10%
8.9%
MA: 10%
8%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
41.3%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
82%Highest
MA: 62.5%
58.4%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1950Lowest
14 yrs older than MA
1976Highest
12 yrs newer than MA
1966
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 minLowest
34% below MA
37 minHighest
27% above MA
22 min
23% below MA
Work from home
11.1%±2.5
MA: 18.6%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
MA: 18.6%
19%±3.2Highest
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #281 of 282 in MA #136 of 282 in MA #92 of 282 in MA
School district Holyoke · Springfield North Middlesex Easthampton
High school in town Holyoke High North Middlesex Regional Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.5
13.1Highest
9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.