Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers vs Needham
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).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Danvers | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Lowest |
28,098 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Danvers and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
| Needham and Danvers 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 |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Danvers 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1965 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | — | Needham |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 11.9Highest |
| 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.