Compare towns
Hudson vs South Hadley vs Dedham
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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | South Hadley | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
17,754Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Dedham 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% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Dedham 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Dedham 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% |
50.2% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$5,500Lowest 8% below MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #216 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | South Hadley | Dedham |
| High school in town | Hudson High | South Hadley High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
8.6Lowest |
10.4Highest |
| 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.