The Town FilesSouth Hadley, Massachusetts
Town in Hampshire County · population 18,150 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $357,900
- Household income
- $93,910
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 37 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 11
- Median age
- 42.6
South Hadley is a town of 18,150 people in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. The median home is worth $357,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). It ranks hipper than 78% of Massachusetts towns, more walkable than 77% of Massachusetts towns, better for young professionals than 70% of Massachusetts towns.
How South Hadley ranks
Percentile among Massachusetts towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Massachusetts towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in South Hadley is worth $357,900, below the typical Massachusetts town ($510,150). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $93,910, which is more affordable than 81% of Massachusetts towns. Median rent is $1,325 a month. 77.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | South Hadley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $357,900 | $510,150 |
| Median rent | $1,325 | $1,561 |
| Median household income | $93,910 | $108,622 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 4.5× |
| Homeownership | 77.0% | 80.7% |
| Median year built | 1961 | 1968 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 1.2% | — |
Who lives in South Hadley
| People | South Hadley | Typical Massachusetts town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 44.8 |
| Age 65 and over | 23.3% | 20.7% |
| Under 18 | 12.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.2% | 45.7% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 6.3% |
| Veterans | 7.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.7% | — |
| Work from home | 17.3% | 17.7% |
| Average commute | 23.5 min | 30.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.7% | 93.9% |
Weather in South Hadley
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F. About 46.6 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 36.5 inches of snow (typical Massachusetts town: 49.5 in). Expect about 12 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 153 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hadley since 1950, compared with 8 for the typical Massachusetts town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on September 13, 1971 about 6.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on June 1, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 61 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on July 26, 2011.
Severe weather in Hampshire County since 1996
Hampshire County has been included in 23 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 15, 2023 | Hurricane | EM-3599: Hurricane Lee |
| March 27, 2020 | Biological | DR-4496: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3438: Covid-19 |
| April 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4110: Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, And Flooding |
| October 28, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3350: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Hampshire County
Hampshire County had 65,786 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $62,006 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in South Hadley itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in South Hadley
5 public schools with 2,043 students, about 10.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael E. Smith Middle School | 5-8 | 511 | 11.6 |
| South Hadley High | 9-12 | 508 | 9.2 |
| Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School (charter) | 7-12 | 399 | 9.3 |
| Mosier | 2-4 | 360 | 12.9 |
| Plains Elementary | PK-1 | 265 | 11.0 |
Towns near South Hadley
- Granby, MA4.2 mi · 6,110 people · home $352,600
- Holyoke, MA4.4 mi · 38,238 people · home $274,100
- Chicopee, MA5.5 mi · 55,560 people · home $274,500
- Northampton, MA6.9 mi · 29,571 people · home $429,700
- Hadley, MA6.9 mi · 5,325 people · home $511,000
- Ludlow, MA8.0 mi · 21,002 people · home $335,300
- Amherst Town, MA8.3 mi · 39,263 people · home $484,900
- Southampton, MA8.5 mi · 6,224 people · home $452,300
South Hadley questions
Is South Hadley, Massachusetts a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, South Hadley scores better for retirees than 51% of Massachusetts towns and quieter than 26%. 23.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in South Hadley?
The median owner-occupied home in South Hadley is valued at $357,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $93,910, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $1,325 a month.
What is the weather like in South Hadley?
July highs average 83.1°F and January lows 13.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.6 inches of precipitation a year and 36.5 inches of snow.
Does South Hadley get tornadoes?
11 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of South Hadley since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on September 13, 1971. The typical Massachusetts town has had 8.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)