Compare towns
Beverly vs Hudson vs South Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Beverly | Hudson | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,665Highest |
20,077 |
17,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
| Hudson and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.3%±0.8 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
| Beverly and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,771±$106Highest about the MA average |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,836 14% above MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$5,500Lowest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 3% above MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #144 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Beverly | Hudson | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Beverly High | Hudson High | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
10.2 |
8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.