What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).

Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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.

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

Measure	South Hadley	Hampton
People
Population	17,754Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.6±2.6Lowest 10% above U.S.	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	12.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
	South Hadley and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	18.7%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,910±$15kLowest 16% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Hampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$357,900±$19kLowest 8% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,325±$54Lowest 6% below U.S.	$1,628±$94Highest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,500Lowest 76% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.7%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	26 minHighest about the U.S. average
Work from home	17.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	South Hadley	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	South Hadley High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	8.6Lowest	10.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.