What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

South Hadley has the shortest commute (24 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lunenburg	South Hadley
People
Population	11,902Lowest	17,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 8% above MA	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA
	Lunenburg and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest MA: 19.4%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 9% above MA	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA
	Lunenburg and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 17% below MA	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 12% above MA	$1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Highest 7% above MA	$5,500Lowest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%
	South Hadley and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Lowest MA: 10%	7.5%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest MA: 62.5%	77%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 24% above MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	South Hadley and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Lunenburg	South Hadley
High school in town	Lunenburg High	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Highest	8.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.