What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the oldest population (median age 42.9).

Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

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	Hudson	Ayer
People
Population	20,077Highest	8,645Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%	+14.2%Highest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA	39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average
	Hudson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	20.3%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4%
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9%	14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.1%Highest MA: 47.3%	42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9%
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average	$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average
	Hudson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA	$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA
	Hudson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA	$1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Highest 15% above MA	$5,057Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8%
	Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest MA: 10%	10.7%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	33 minHighest 13% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6%
	Ayer 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	#224 of 282 in MA	#113 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson	Ayer Shirley School District
High school in town	Hudson High	Ayer Shirley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	11.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	12 photos →

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.