Holyoke, MA vs Somerville, MA

The cost of living difference between Holyoke, MA and Somerville, MA is dramatic. Holyoke is 54% cheaper than Somerville, a gap that translates to thousands of dollars per year in household expenses. Holyoke has a cost index of 86 while Somerville sits at 187, making this one of the more striking comparisons on our site. Relocating between these cities would require a serious reassessment of budget and lifestyle expectations.

On the housing front, median rent in Holyoke is $1,016/month compared to $2,468/month in Somerville — a 59% difference. Home values follow the same pattern: Holyoke is more affordable at $255,300 median vs $899,400.

Median household income in Holyoke is $51,892 compared to $127,056 in Somerville (-59.2%). While Somerville is more expensive, its higher salaries more than compensate — residents there may actually end up with more disposable income. Looking at affordability, residents of Holyoke spend roughly 23.5% of their income on rent, more than the 23.3% in Somerville.

Climate-wise, both cities share similar average temperatures (49.4°F vs 51.9°F). Holyoke receives more rainfall at 45.2" per year compared to 43.6" in Somerville.