Holyoke vs Westfield
Holyoke, Massachusetts versus Westfield, Massachusetts: a factual, side-by-side comparison of cost of living, housing, safety, schools, and climate. Greener figures rank better among US places.
Holyoke and Westfield score about the same overall (44 vs 46 of 100) — the differences are in the individual factors below.
Factor-by-factor comparison
| Factor | Holyoke | Westfield |
|---|---|---|
| Affordability | ||
| Median Household Income | $49k | $78k |
| Cost of Living | $48k | $48k |
| Home Value | $237k | $282k |
| Monthly Rent | $937 | $1k |
| Monthly Owner Costs | $2k | $2k |
| Property Tax Rate | 1.61% | 1.66% |
| Income Tax | 9.00% | 9.00% |
| Sales Tax | 6.25% | 6.25% |
| Estimated total tax burden | 18.87% | 17.02% |
| Unemployment | 6.8% | 4.5% |
| Weather | ||
| Winter Temp (Jan) | 25°F | 26°F |
| Summer Temp (Jul) | 73°F | 73°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 45.2 in | 45.2 in |
| Annual Snowfall | 36.5 in | 51.7 in |
| Sunny Days | 185 days | 185 days |
| Summer Humidity | 62°F | 62°F |
| Comfortable Days | 77 days | 77 days |
| Safety & Wellbeing | ||
| Natural Disaster Risk | 35.1 | 66.0 |
| Air Quality | 46 AQI | 46 AQI |
| School Quality | 100.0 | 98.3 |
| Violent Crime | 3242/100k | 688/100k |
| Property Crime | 3719/100k | 897/100k |
| Community | ||
| Population | 38,210 | 40,794 |
| Median Age | 37.5 | 39.2 |
| Racial Diversity | 0.50 | 0.26 |
| Male/Female Ratio | 0.97 | 0.92 |
| Political Leaning | D+18 | D+18 |
| White (%) | 43.3% | 81.5% |
| Black (%) | 2.6% | 1.3% |
| Hispanic (%) | 51.7% | 10.4% |
| Asian (%) | 0.6% | 4.3% |
| Other / Multiracial (%) | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Getting Around | ||
| Commute Time | 20 min | 25 min |
| Walkability | 12.5/20 | 11.6/20 |
| Airport Distance | 20 mi | 15 mi |
| Lifestyle & Connectivity | ||
| Broadband Access | 83.5% | 88.0% |
| Amenities Nearby | 38.47 | 18.39 |
| Park & Nature Access | Moderate | Good |
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 Holyoke or Westfield more affordable?
- Westfield has the lower cost of living: its index is $48k, compared with Holyoke's $48k and Westfield's $48k. Median rent is $937 in Holyoke versus $1k in Westfield.
- Is Holyoke or Westfield safer?
- Westfield has the lower violent crime rate. Holyoke reports 3242/100k and Westfield reports 688/100k (violent crimes per 100,000 residents).
- Are homes cheaper in Holyoke or Westfield?
- The median home value is $237k in Holyoke and $282k in Westfield, so homes are more affordable in Holyoke.