The Town FilesHolyoke, Massachusetts
City in Hampden County · population 38,238 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $274,100
- Household income
- $53,605
- Jan low / Jul high
- 16° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 48 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 16
- Median age
- 40.0
Holyoke is a city of 38,238 people in Hampden County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $274,100, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks more vibrant than 94% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 91% of Massachusetts towns, hipper than 88% of Massachusetts towns.
How Holyoke ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Holyoke is worth $274,100, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 5.1 times the median household income of $53,605, which is more affordable than 35% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,021 a month. 41.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Holyoke | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $274,100 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,021 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $53,605 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 5.1× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 41.3% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1950 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.1% | — |
Who lives in Holyoke
| People | Holyoke | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.0 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 20.1% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 27.0% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 5.3% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.2% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 19.3 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 86.4% | 93.9% |
Weather in Holyoke
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 48.4 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 144 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holyoke since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 6 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF3, struck on June 1, 2011 about 7.6 miles from the town center and killed 3. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 3 deaths and 200 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on June 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 62 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampden County since 1996
Hampden County has been included in 24 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, tornado, hurricane.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampden County
Hampden County had 202,129 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,834 a year. Unemployment was 4.3% in 2023; in Holyoke itself the ACS puts it at 7.7%.
Public schools in Holyoke
12 public schools with 5,618 students, about 12.4 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holyoke High | 9-12 | 1,567 | 12.3 |
| Holyoke Community Charter School (charter) | K-8 | 692 | 19.8 |
| Lt Clayre Sullivan Elementary | 6-8 | 494 | 12.4 |
| Kelly Elementary | PK-5 | 459 | 12.4 |
| E N White Elementary | PK-5 | 451 | 11.9 |
| Maurice A Donahue Elementary | PK-5 | 430 | 11.9 |
| H.B. Lawrence School | PK-5 | 334 | 10.4 |
| Lt Elmer J McMahon Elementary | PK-5 | 331 | 10.0 |
| Morgan Full Service Community School | PK-5 | 323 | 10.4 |
| Holyoke STEM Academy | 6-8 | 304 | 14.5 |
| Joseph Metcalf School | 6-8 | 205 | 9.3 |
| Gateway to College at Holyoke Community College | 10-12 | 28 | — |
Towns near Holyoke
- Chicopee, MA4.4 mi · 55,560 people · home $274,500
- South Hadley, MA4.4 mi · 18,150 people · home $357,900
- Southampton, MA5.2 mi · 6,224 people · home $452,300
- West Springfield Town, MA6.0 mi · 28,835 people · home $321,500
- Granby, MA7.6 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- Westfield, MA7.7 mi · 40,834 people · home $325,100
- Northampton, MA8.1 mi · 29,571 people · home $429,700
- Springfield, MA8.5 mi · 155,929 people · home $245,000
Holyoke questions
Is Holyoke, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Holyoke scores better for retirees than 2% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 5%. 20.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.0).
How much does a house cost in Holyoke?
The median owner-occupied home in Holyoke is valued at $274,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,605, so homes cost about 5.1 times income. Median rent is $1,021 a month.
What is the weather like in Holyoke?
July highs average 84.9°F and January lows 15.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 48.4 inches of snow.
Does Holyoke get tornadoes?
16 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Holyoke since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF3 on June 1, 2011. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)