Compare towns
Hudson vs Wareham 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).
Wareham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).
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 | Wareham | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
23,302Highest |
17,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
52.1±3.1Highest 30% above MA |
42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.1%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.2%±3.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Wareham 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% |
27.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.2%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$90,383±$11kLowest 13% 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 |
$424,500±$21k 24% below MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,504±$180Highest 15% below MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
| Wareham 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 |
$4,341Lowest 28% below MA |
$5,500 8% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±23.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Wareham 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% |
6.7% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1961 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%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.4%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6 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 | #272 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Wareham | South Hadley |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Wareham Senior High | South Hadley High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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.