What stands out worked out from the figures below

Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).

South Hadley has the most homeowners (77%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Easthampton	South Hadley
People
Population	16,086Lowest	17,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	—	+3.6% MA: +7.4%
Median age	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.5%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA	$93,910±$15kHighest 10% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA	$1,325±$54Highest 25% below MA
	South Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA	$5,500Highest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	South Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8%Highest MA: 10%	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 23% below MA	24 minHighest 19% below MA
Work from home	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Easthampton and South Hadley 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	#92 of 282 in MA	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Easthampton	South Hadley
High school in town	Easthampton High	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.