Compare towns
Hudson vs Ayer vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the shortest commute (31 min average).
Ayer has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
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 | Ayer | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
8,645 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+14.2% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
41.2±1.7 3% above MA |
| Hudson and Bolton 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%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Ayer 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% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest 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±$13k about the MA average |
$101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,415±$180 20% below MA |
$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
| Bolton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
45.1%±14.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest 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% MA: 10% |
10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1977 13 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±5.9 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #113 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Ayer Shirley School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.5 |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.