What stands out worked out from the figures below

Townsend has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Townsend	Holyoke
People
Population	9,100Lowest	37,813Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.3%Highest MA: +7.4%	-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±3.3Highest about the MA average	40±1.6Lowest about the MA average
	Townsend and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±3.2Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Holyoke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.1%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±1.6Highest MA: 17.9%
	Holyoke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Highest MA: 47.3%	25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9%	3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Townsend and Holyoke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$121,528±$23kHighest 17% above MA	$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$433,200±$22kHighest 23% below MA	$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,469±$313Highest 17% below MA	$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,031Highest about the MA average	$4,065Lowest 32% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.6%±16.8Lowest MA: 51.8%	51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8%
	Holyoke and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest MA: 10%	27%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82%Highest MA: 62.5%	41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 12 yrs newer than MA	1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 27% above MA	19 minLowest 34% below MA
Work from home	10.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6%	11.1%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6%
	Holyoke and Townsend 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	#136 of 282 in MA	#281 of 282 in MA
School district	North Middlesex	Holyoke · Springfield
High school in town	North Middlesex Regional	Holyoke High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.1Highest	12.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.