Compare towns
Hudson vs South Hadley vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Auburn has the highest household income ($117k).
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 | South Hadley | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
17,754 |
16,970Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Auburn 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% |
50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
| Auburn 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±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$400,000±$16k 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,467±$155Highest 17% below MA |
| Auburn 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 |
$5,500 8% below MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn 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% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77% MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
26 min 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #216 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | South Hadley | Auburn |
| High school in town | Hudson High | South Hadley High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
8.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| 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.