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Living in
Holyoke.
About
Life in Holyoke
If you're considering moving to Holyoke, you're looking at a working-class city with real character and a history that shaped American industry. The downtown grid layout is genuinely unusual for New England and gives certain neighborhoods a walkable feel, though you'll need a car for most errands. Housing is affordable compared to the region—median home values around $274k and rents under $1,020—which is a genuine advantage if you're budget-conscious.
Holyoke at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.0 yrs
Poverty Rate
27.0%
Foreign-Born
6.2%
Broadband Internet
86.4%
of households
Population Growth
-0.6%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.2% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Holyoke: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Holyoke, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (21.9%), and 38.1% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
21.4%
of residents
65 and Older
20.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
34.1%
of households
Married Couples
28.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.34
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 42% below MA average
Rent, home values, and income in Holyoke
In Holyoke, rent runs 42% below the MA average, and home values are 51% below the MA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
26.2%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.1
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,065
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
41.3%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1950
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.4%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $330,652 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.5 pts above MA average
Unemployment in Holyoke
Unemployment in Holyoke is 1.5 percentage points higher than the MA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Holyoke Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute19.3 min avg
How Holyoke residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Holyoke, most residents drive alone to work (73%), and 80% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 19 mi
Bradley International Airport (BDL)
Medium hub3.3M passengers boarded in 2025
- 82 mi
Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
Major hub21.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 295% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Holyoke runs 295% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
1,300.9
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
3,589.4
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Holyoke Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 11 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
92.8 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Hampden County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Hampden County, which includes Holyoke, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 11 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | Thunderstorm Wind | $48,900 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $21,400 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $98,800 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $67,700 |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $158,800 |
| 2020 | 34 | Strong Wind | $349,700 |
| 2019 | 28 | Thunderstorm Wind | $564,700 |
| 2018 | 19 | Flood | $151,400 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Hampden County, county-wide
Air Quality39 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Hampden County, which includes Holyoke, is typically good — 281 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
39
Good Days
281
per year
Moderate Days
79
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Hampden County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 18°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Holyoke has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and very cold winters (avg low 18°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/36°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/58°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/40°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
37°/18°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.2"
Annual Snowfall
36.5"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
144
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
137
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35°F | 16°F | 2.75" |
| Feb | 38°F | 17°F | 2.60" |
| Mar | 47°F | 26°F | 3.43" |
| Apr | 60°F | 35°F | 4.06" |
| May | 72°F | 46°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 80°F | 55°F | 4.37" |
| Jul | 85°F | 61°F | 4.15" |
| Aug | 83°F | 59°F | 3.72" |
| Sep | 75°F | 51°F | 4.60" |
| Oct | 63°F | 39°F | 4.72" |
| Nov | 51°F | 30°F | 3.47" |
| Dec | 40°F | 22°F | 3.58" |
Healthcare3 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Holyoke
Holyoke has 3 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
3
within city limits
Uninsured
4.3%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Holyoke Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Miravista Behavioral Health Center
Psychiatric
Valley Springs Behavioral Health Hospital
Psychiatric
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Baystate Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.7 mi away · Springfield
Mercy Medical Ctr
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7 mi away · Springfield
The Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 8.4 mi away · Northampton
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Holyoke
Holyoke's student/teacher ratio is 12.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
12
within city limits
Private Schools
7
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Holyoke
Public · 2-year · 3,591 students · in-state tuition $6,090 · 27% graduate · median earnings $44,609 (10 yrs after entry)
Nearby Colleges (within 15 miles)
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
13.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 23,671 students · in-state tuition $18,487 · 81% graduate · median earnings $80,486 (10 yrs after entry)
Springfield Technical Community College
7.8 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 4,759 students · in-state tuition $6,004 · 37% graduate · median earnings $45,410 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 4-year · 3,615 students · in-state tuition $12,616 · 63% graduate · median earnings $63,082 (10 yrs after entry)
Western New England University
9.1 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 2,603 students · in-state tuition $49,490 · 66% graduate · median earnings $81,107 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 2,544 students · in-state tuition $67,448 · 90% graduate · median earnings $69,936 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,911 students · in-state tuition $73,830 · 94% graduate · median earnings $95,161 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: New England National Scenic Trail, 8 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Holyoke
Holyoke has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being New England National Scenic Trail (8 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
New England National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
8 mi awaySpringfield Armory National Historic Site
National Historic Site
8 mi awayColtsville National Historical Park
National Historical Park
34 mi awayMartin Van Buren National Historic Site
National Historic Site
56 mi awayThomas Cole National Historic Site
National Historic Site
62 mi awayRoger Williams National Memorial
National Memorial
68 mi awayBlackstone River Valley National Historical Park
National Historical Park
69 mi awayMinute Man National Historical Park
National Historical Park
70 mi awayPublic Libraries in Holyoke
Holyoke Public Library
250 Chestnut St., Holyoke
Cities Near Holyoke
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Holyoke?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Holyoke FAQ
Is Holyoke, Massachusetts affordable?⌄
Holyoke's median rent is $1,021/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $53,605/year. Median home value is $274,100.
Is Holyoke, Massachusetts safe?⌄
Holyoke's violent crime rate was 1301 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 3589 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Holyoke, Massachusetts?⌄
Holyoke has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Holyoke, Massachusetts?⌄
The cost of living in Holyoke is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,021/month and median household income is $53,605/year. The median home value is $274,100. About 48% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Holyoke, Massachusetts?⌄
The average commute in Holyoke is 19 minutes, which is shorter than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from