What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).

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	Jaffrey
People
Population	20,077Highest	5,448Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.7 10% above U.S.	42.9±3.9 10% above U.S.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Jaffrey and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	46.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S.	$92,330±$18kLowest 14% above U.S.
	Hudson and Jaffrey 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.	$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average	$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Highest 121% above U.S.	$6,196Lowest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	45.7%±23Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Jaffrey 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%	3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#224 of 282 in MA	#87 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson	Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town	Hudson High	Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	21.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

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.