Compare towns
Southampton vs Lancaster vs Holyoke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Southampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Southampton | Lancaster | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,230Lowest |
8,606 |
37,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.8% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±3.5Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
| Southampton and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±4 MA: 19.4% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6 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+ | 41.1% MA: 47.3% |
50.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
| Southampton and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $123,125±$23k 18% above MA |
$134,833±$27kHighest 30% above MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| Lancaster and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $452,300±$25k 20% below MA |
$519,100±$60kHighest 8% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Lancaster and Southampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,470 9% below MA |
$7,235Highest 21% above MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.2%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 23% below MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 8.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #205 of 282 in MA | #145 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Southampton | Nashoba | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.