What stands out worked out from the figures below

Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).

Hudson has the shortest commute (31 min average).

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	Grafton	Hudson
People
Population	19,902Lowest	20,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+10.7%Highest MA: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	41.1±1.6Lowest about the MA average	42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA
	Hudson and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.5%±2.7Highest MA: 19.4%	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hudson and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	55.7%Highest MA: 47.3%	46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.6%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9%	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%
	Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$131,484±$11kHighest 26% above MA	$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$525,300±$37kHighest 7% below MA	$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA
	Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,504±$169Highest 15% below MA	$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA
	Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,117Highest 19% above MA	$6,892Lowest 15% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.1%±12.5Highest MA: 51.8%	40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Grafton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Highest MA: 10%	5.3%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2% MA: 62.5%	73.2% MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 13% above MA	31 minLowest 6% above MA
Work from home	22.4%±2.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Grafton 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	#67 of 282 in MA	#224 of 282 in MA
School district	Grafton	Hudson
High school in town	Grafton High School	Hudson High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.9Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.