What stands out worked out from the figures below

Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).

Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).

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	Beverly	Hudson
People
Population	42,665Highest	20,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	39±1.8Lowest about the MA average	42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA
Kids under 18	18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hudson and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hudson and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	53.4%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average	$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average
	Beverly and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA	$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,771±$106Highest about the MA average	$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,836Lowest 14% above MA	$6,892Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8%	40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Beverly and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	9.4%Highest MA: 10%	5.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 3% above MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Beverly 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	#144 of 282 in MA	#224 of 282 in MA
School district	Beverly	Hudson
High school in town	Beverly High	Hudson High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.