Compare towns
South Hadley vs Hudson vs Grafton
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 affordable homes ($358k median).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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 | Hudson | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,754Lowest |
20,077Highest |
19,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
41.1±1.6Lowest 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. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Grafton 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Hudson 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% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
55.7%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA |
| Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$54Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA |
| Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,500Lowest 8% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$7,117Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±12.5 MA: 51.8% |
| South Hadley and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 19% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Grafton and Hudson 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #67 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hadley | Hudson | Grafton |
| High school in town | South Hadley High | Hudson High | Grafton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
10.2 |
12.9Highest |
| 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.