What stands out worked out from the figures below

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Ayer	Hudson
People
Population	8,645Lowest	25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22%	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S.	$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S.	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S.	$6,636Highest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±14.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Ayer 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	#113 of 282 in MA	#63 of 120 in NH
School district	Ayer Shirley School District	Hudson School District
High school in town	Ayer Shirley Regional High School	Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	12 photos →	None yet

U.S. 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.