What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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	Hampden	Hudson
People
Population	7,896Lowest	20,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	42.9±1.7Highest 10% above U.S.
	Hudson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hampden and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Hampden and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average
	Hudson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$6,892Highest 121% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hudson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#224 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 22	Hudson
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Hudson High
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.