Compare towns
Hudson vs Chilmark 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 most affordable homes ($497k median).
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Bolton has the most people working from home (40.5%).
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 | Chilmark | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
1,578Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+40%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
53.6±8.1Highest 34% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Hudson 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% |
36.2%±12.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.1% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hudson and Bolton 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 |
$168,750±$28k 62% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Chilmark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 237% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,750±$2kHighest 56% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Chilmark and Bolton 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 |
$4,485Lowest 25% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
30.8%±59.9 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hudson and Chilmark 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% |
4.1% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1984 20 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
25.7%±11 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Chilmark 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 | — | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Up-Island Regional | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.