Compare towns
Holyoke vs Webster vs Everett vs Southampton
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 affordable homes ($274k median).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Southampton has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Webster | Everett | Southampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 37,813 |
17,748 |
50,045Highest |
6,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+7.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.6 about the MA average |
39.9±2.9 about the MA average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
| Southampton and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Everett and Holyoke 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% |
19.6%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Southampton 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.3% MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.8%±1.6 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.7%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
| Everett and Webster 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 |
$72,895±$6k 30% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$123,125±$23kHighest 18% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$361,500±$12k 36% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,228±$81 30% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,065 32% below MA |
$3,999Lowest 33% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$5,470Highest 9% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
45.7%±6.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Everett 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% |
12.7% MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
2.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 41.3% MA: 62.5% |
59.8% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1950 14 yrs older than MA |
1962 2 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 34% below MA |
31 min 5% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
22 min 23% below MA |
| Work from home | 11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
8%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2 MA: 18.6% |
8.2%±3.6 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 | #271 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #205 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Holyoke · Springfield | Webster | Everett | Southampton |
| High school in town | Holyoke High | Bartlett High School | Everett High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.