Compare towns
Bolton vs Ware vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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.
| Measure | Bolton | Ware | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,737Lowest |
10,048 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Bolton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 26% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #28 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Ware | Hudson |
| High school in town | Nashoba Regional | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0Highest |
11.1 |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.