What stands out worked out from the figures below

Gardner has the most affordable homes ($302k median).

Hudson has the most expensive 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	Gardner	Hudson
People
Population	21,148Highest	20,077Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.2%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	43.7±2.3Highest 9% above MA	42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA
	Gardner and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%	19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%
	Hudson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hudson and Gardner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%	46.1%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Gardner and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$67,518±$8kLowest 35% below MA	$103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,600±$20kLowest 46% below MA	$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,109±$51Lowest 37% below MA	$1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,150Lowest 31% below MA	$6,892Highest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.7%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8%	40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Gardner and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.7%Highest MA: 10%	5.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	58.9%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 5% above MA	31 minHighest 6% above MA
Work from home	13.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hudson and Gardner 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	#273 of 282 in MA	#224 of 282 in MA
School district	Gardner	Hudson
High school in town	Gardner High	Hudson High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.5Highest	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.