What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hadley has the most homeowners (77%).

Easthampton has the most renters (41.6% rent).

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	South Hadley	Easthampton
People
Population	17,754Highest	16,086Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.6±2.6Lowest 7% above MA	46±2.6Highest 15% above MA
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	15.5%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4%
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 17.9%	23.9%±3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Easthampton 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+	50.2%Highest MA: 47.3%	38%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9%	6.1%±1.9Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,910±$15kHighest 10% below MA	$71,673±$7kLowest 31% below MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA	$371,500±$15kHighest 34% below MA
	Easthampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$54Highest 25% below MA	$1,292±$70Lowest 27% below MA
	South Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,500Highest 8% below MA	$4,932Lowest 18% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8%	45.5%±10.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	South Hadley and Easthampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest MA: 10%	8%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Highest MA: 62.5%	58.4%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA	1966Highest 2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 19% below MA	22 minLowest 23% below MA
Work from home	17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Highest MA: 18.6%
	Easthampton 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	#216 of 282 in MA	#92 of 282 in MA
School district	South Hadley	Easthampton
High school in town	South Hadley High	Easthampton High
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	9.8Highest
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.