Compare towns
Hudson vs Maynard 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
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Maynard has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Hudson | Maynard | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
10,712Lowest |
17,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Maynard and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
50.2% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$124,067±$16kHighest 19% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
| Maynard and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$527,400±$31kHighest 6% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| Maynard and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$8,266Highest 38% above MA |
$5,500Lowest 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| South Hadley and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 9% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Maynard 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | — | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
— | 8.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.