Compare towns
South Hadley vs Holyoke vs Chicopee
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
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 | Holyoke | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,754Lowest |
37,813 |
55,295Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.6Highest 7% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| South Hadley and Chicopee 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% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Chicopee 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% |
20.1%±1.6 MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4Lowest 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% |
25.9% MA: 47.3% |
22.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,910±$15kHighest 10% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,900±$19kHighest 36% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$54Highest 25% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,500Highest 8% below MA |
$4,065 32% below MA |
$3,847Lowest 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Chicopee 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% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Highest 3 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 19% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hadley | Holyoke · Springfield | Chicopee |
| High school in town | South Hadley High | Holyoke High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
12.5Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.