Compare towns
South Hadley vs Everett vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hadley has the most homeowners (77%).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Holyoke has the most affordable homes ($274k median).
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 | South Hadley | Everett | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,754Lowest |
50,045Highest |
37,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.6Highest 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
40±1.6 about the MA average |
| South Hadley and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9 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+ | 23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,910±$15kHighest 10% below MA |
$85,218±$7k 18% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| South Hadley and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,900±$19k 36% below MA |
$610,000±$23kHighest 9% above MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$54 25% below MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,500Highest 8% below MA |
$4,880 19% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 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 | 7.5%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
41.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1950 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| South Hadley 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 | #216 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hadley | Everett | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | South Hadley High | Everett High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
12.1 |
12.5Highest |
| 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.