What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).

Hudson has the most people working from home (26.9%).

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	Chester	Hudson
People
Population	4,033Lowest	5,865Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.6%Highest NY: +4.2%	-12.2%Lowest NY: +4.2%
Median age	38.7±6.6Lowest about the NY average	41.2±2.1Highest 4% above NY
	Hudson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.9%±7.1Highest NY: 20.5%	15.8%±3.4Lowest NY: 20.5%
	Chester and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.2%±4.6Lowest NY: 17.9%	17.5%±3.7Highest NY: 17.9%
	Hudson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.4%Lowest NY: 40.2%	43.3%Highest NY: 40.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±3.7Lowest NY: 7%	3.3%±1.6Highest NY: 7%
	Hudson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,514±$28kHighest 17% above NY	$54,139±$11kLowest 37% below NY
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,200±$72kLowest 22% below NY	$389,900±$106kHighest 8% below NY
	Hudson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,010±$224Highest 24% above NY	$1,343±$138Lowest 17% below NY
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,940Highest 5% above NY	$5,877Lowest 11% below NY
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	27.9%±20.2Lowest NY: 52.1%	69.8%±10Highest NY: 52.1%
Below poverty line	6.8%Lowest NY: 14%	28.2%Highest NY: 14%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	50.2%Highest NY: 54.3%	45%Lowest NY: 54.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 22 yrs newer than NY	1938Lowest 21 yrs older than NY
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	40 minHighest 22% above NY	27 minLowest 18% below NY
Work from home	9.8%±5.7Lowest NY: 14.9%	26.9%±6.9Highest NY: 14.9%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#294 of 484 in NY
School district	—	HUDSON CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
High school in town	—	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

NY 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.