Compare towns
Hudson vs Bolton vs Auburn
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 most renters (26.8% rent).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k 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.
| Measure | Hudson | Bolton | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
5,737Lowest |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
| Auburn and Hudson 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% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Hudson 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% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn 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±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Bolton and Auburn 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
79.6% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Nashoba | Auburn |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Nashoba Regional | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.0 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.