Compare towns
Eliot vs Nelson vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
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 | Eliot | Nelson | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146 |
648Lowest |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Nelson School District | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.