What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hudson	Exeter
People
Population	20,077Highest	16,151Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter 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 28% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Lowest 121% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter 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 U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Hudson 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	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Hudson High	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

U.S. 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.