Compare towns
Hudson vs Salisbury 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).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Salisbury | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
9,281Lowest |
17,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.5%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
51.3±3.5Highest 28% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
25.5%±3.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury 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+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
43.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$93,361±$6kLowest 10% below MA |
$93,910±$15k 10% below MA |
| Hudson and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$478,700±$27k 15% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| Hudson and Salisbury 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 |
$1,691±$411Highest 4% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
| Salisbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,604Lowest 23% below MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±11.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
28 min 5% below MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.8%±5.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Triton | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
— | 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.