What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Hadley has the shortest commute (20 min average).

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	Hadley
People
Population	20,077Highest	5,306Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA	45.8±7.1Highest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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 MA: 19.4%	16.2%±4.6Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hudson and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9%	24.2%±4.8Highest MA: 17.9%
	Hadley 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%	61.3%Highest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	10.9%±5.7Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average	$119,259±$12kHighest 15% above MA
	Hadley 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±$22kLowest 12% below MA	$511,000±$43kHighest 9% below MA
	Hadley and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA	$1,402±$132Lowest 20% below MA
	Hudson and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Highest 15% above MA	$5,271Lowest 12% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Highest MA: 51.8%	38.6%±18.9Lowest MA: 51.8%
	Hudson and Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Lowest MA: 10%	6.4%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	73.4%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1971Highest 7 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	20 minLowest 33% below MA
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6%	20.1%±7.4Highest MA: 18.6%
	Hadley 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	#116 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson	Hadley
High school in town	Hudson High	Hopkins Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Highest	7.3Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.