Compare towns
Hudson vs Windsor Locks vs South Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Windsor Locks has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Windsor Locks | South Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
12,579Lowest |
17,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.4±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.6±2.6 10% above U.S. |
| Hudson and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
$81,205±$13kLowest about the U.S. average |
$93,910±$15k 16% above U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$258,800±$14kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$357,900±$19k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,394±$187 about the U.S. average |
$1,325±$54Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Hudson and Windsor Locks are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
$3,688Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$5,500 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.2%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.7%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windsor Locks 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson and Windsor Locks 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 | #109 of 149 in CT | #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 |
U.S. 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.