What stands out worked out from the figures below

Southbridge Town has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

Holyoke has the most people working from home (11.1%).

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	Southbridge Town	Holyoke
People
Population	17,928Lowest	37,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±2.4Highest about the MA average	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average
	Southbridge Town and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Southbridge Town and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.3%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.4%Lowest MA: 47.3%	25.9%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Southbridge Town and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$66,287±$8kHighest 36% below MA	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$18kHighest 48% below MA	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA
	Southbridge Town and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,256±$79Highest 29% below MA	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,400Highest 27% below MA	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.8%±8.3Highest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±5.4Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Southbridge Town and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.3%Lowest MA: 10%	27%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	42.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Highest 8 yrs older than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest about the MA average	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	4.8%±1.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#282 of 282 in MA	#281 of 282 in MA
School district	Southbridge	Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town	Southbridge High School	Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	12.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.