Compare towns
South Hadley vs Holyoke vs Hudson
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 the most homeowners (77%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% rent).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,754Lowest |
37,813Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
40±1.6Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
| Hudson 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% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Holyoke and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Holyoke 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% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,910±$15k 10% below MA |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
$103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
| Hudson 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 |
$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$54 25% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% below MA |
$1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA |
| Hudson and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,500 8% below MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest 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% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hadley | Holyoke · Springfield | Hudson |
| High school in town | South Hadley High | Holyoke High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
12.5Highest |
10.2 |
| 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.