Compare towns
Hudson vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Dedham | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
25,237Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham 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% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Dedham and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Dedham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Dedham High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.4 |
12.0Highest |
| 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.