Compare towns
South Hadley vs Hudson vs Holyoke
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%).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Holyoke has the most renters (58.7% 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.
| Measure | South Hadley | Hudson | Holyoke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,754Lowest |
20,077 |
37,813Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
40±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% |
21.4%±1.9Highest 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%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±1.6Lowest 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
25.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.4%±0.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,910±$15k 10% below MA |
$103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$53,605±$3kLowest 48% below MA |
| 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 |
$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$274,100±$8kLowest 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$54 25% below MA |
$1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA |
$1,021±$60Lowest 42% 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 |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,065Lowest 32% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.7%±5.4Highest 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% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
27%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
41.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961 3 yrs older than MA |
1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1950Lowest 14 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 19% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
19 minLowest 34% below MA |
| Work from home | 17.3%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
11.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #281 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hadley | Hudson | Holyoke · Springfield |
| High school in town | South Hadley High | Hudson High | Holyoke High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.6Lowest |
10.2 |
12.5Highest |
| 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.