Compare towns
Hudson vs Smithfield vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Bordering HudsonHudson
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most renters (32% rent).
Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Hudson | Smithfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
22,233Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.8±2.6 7% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$102,077±$8k 26% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15k 42% above U.S. |
$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83 about the U.S. average |
$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597 112% above U.S. |
$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Smithfield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #8 of 38 in RI | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Smithfield | Nashoba |
| High school in town | — | Smithfield High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Lowest |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.