Amherst Town vs Holyoke
Amherst Town, Massachusetts versus Holyoke, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Amherst Town edges out Holyoke on overall objective livability (48 vs 44 of 100), though each leads on different factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Amherst Town | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $68k | $49k |
| Cost of Living | $56k | $48k |
| Home Value | $443k | $237k |
| Monthly Rent | $1k | $937 |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $3k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.87% | 1.61% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 23.20% | 18.87% |
| Unemployment | 9.3% | 6.8% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 25°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 46.6 in | 45.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5 in | 36.5 in |
| Sunny Days | 185 days | 185 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 78 days | 77 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 38.4 | 35.1 |
| Air Quality | 45 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Violent Crime | 423/100k | 3242/100k |
| Property Crime | 334/100k | 3719/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 33,389 | 38,210 |
| Median Age | 21.3 | 37.5 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.49 | 0.50 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.98 | 0.97 |
| Political Leaning | D+48 | D+18 |
| White (%) | 67.0% | 43.3% |
| Black (%) | 4.2% | 2.6% |
| Hispanic (%) | 8.0% | 51.7% |
| Asian (%) | 13.4% | 0.6% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 7.4% | 1.8% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 19 min | 20 min |
| Walkability | 12.9/20 | 12.5/20 |
| Airport Distance | 31 mi | 20 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 92.8% | 83.5% |
| Amenities Nearby | 44.03 | 38.47 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Moderate |
Each figure is colored by how it ranks among all US places: green is strong, amber average, red weaker. Neutral factors (population, demographics, target-style climate) show their percentile without a better/worse claim.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Amherst Town or Holyoke more affordable?
- Holyoke has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Amherst Town's $56k and Holyoke's $48k. Median rent is $1k in Amherst Town versus $937 in Holyoke.
- Is Amherst Town or Holyoke safer?
- Amherst Town has the lower violent crime rate. Amherst Town reports 423/100k and Holyoke reports 3242/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Amherst Town or Holyoke?
- The median home value is $443k in Amherst Town and $237k in Holyoke, so homes are more affordable in Holyoke.