Compare towns
South Hadley vs Holyoke vs Hadley
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hadley has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Hadley has the most expensive homes ($511k 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 | South Hadley | Holyoke | Hadley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,754 |
37,813Highest |
5,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+1.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA |
| Hadley 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% |
21.4%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.2%±4.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±2.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hadley 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% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
61.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.9%±5.7 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,910±$15k 10% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA |
| Hadley 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±$19k 36% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$54 25% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,402±$132Highest 20% below MA |
| Hadley and South Hadley 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 |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$5,271 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Holyoke 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% MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
6.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minHighest 19% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
20 min 33% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hadley 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 | #281 of 282 in MA | #116 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hadley | Holyoke · Springfield | Hadley |
| High school in town | South Hadley High | Holyoke High | Hopkins Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6 |
12.5Highest |
7.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.