Compare towns
Hudson vs Killingly vs Sterling vs South Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most expensive homes ($497k median).
Killingly has the most renters (28.4% rent).
Sterling has the most kids (22.8% under 18).
South Hadley has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Hudson | Killingly | Sterling | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
17,867 |
3,629Lowest |
17,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | — | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.5±3 about the U.S. average |
39.4±5.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.6±2.6 10% above U.S. |
| Hudson and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
22.8%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sterling and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
18%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$84,350±$8kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$102,695±$12k 27% above U.S. |
$93,910±$15k 16% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Sterling are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15k 13% below U.S. |
$283,400±$17kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$357,900±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
— | $1,325±$54 6% below U.S. |
| Hudson and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,922Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$4,551 46% above U.S. |
$5,500 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
32%±18.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Hadley and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.6%±6.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #119 of 149 in CT | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Sterling School District | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Killingly High School | None in town | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
11.1Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.