What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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	Northbridge	South Hadley
People
Population	16,458Lowest	17,754Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA
	Northbridge 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%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4%	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%
Age 65+	16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3%	50.2%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9%	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA	$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA
	Northbridge and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$448,600±$15kHighest 20% below MA	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA	$1,325±$54Highest 25% below MA
	South Hadley and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,821Lowest 20% below MA	$5,500Highest 8% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8%	48.7%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Northbridge and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest MA: 10%	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5%	77%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 7% above MA	24 minLowest 19% below MA
Work from home	16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	17.3%±4.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	South Hadley and Northbridge 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	#226 of 282 in MA	#216 of 282 in MA
School district	Northbridge	South Hadley
High school in town	Northbridge High	South Hadley High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.8Highest	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.