What stands out worked out from the figures below

Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).

Wolcott has the most homeowners (88.4%).

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	Wolcott
People
Population	37,813Highest	16,279Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.1% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	40±1.6Lowest about the U.S. average	44.4±2.5Highest 14% above U.S.
Kids under 18	21.4%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%	19.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Holyoke and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Holyoke and Wolcott 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	5.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Wolcott 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 34% below U.S.	$110,850±$10kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$274,100±$8kLowest 18% below U.S.	$326,200±$17kHighest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,021±$60Lowest 28% below U.S.	$1,464±$913Highest 4% above U.S.
	Wolcott and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,065Lowest 30% above U.S.	$5,799Highest 86% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.8%±24.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Holyoke and Wolcott are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	27%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	41.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	30 minHighest 13% above U.S.
Work from home	11.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	11.2%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Wolcott and Holyoke 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	#76 of 149 in CT
School district	Holyoke · Springfield	Wolcott School District
High school in town	Holyoke High	Wolcott High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.