Compare towns
Hudson vs Lee vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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.
| Measure | Hudson | Lee | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
5,719Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6% MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±5.8 24% above MA |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hudson 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Dalton 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 MA: 47.3% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
44.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Lee 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±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$83,750±$13k 19% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Hudson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$352,700±$19k 37% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA |
$1,375±$212 22% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Hudson and Lee 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$4,276 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Dalton 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% |
7.2% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
71.1% MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959 5 yrs older than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
22 min 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Lee | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Lee Middle/High School | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.