Compare towns
Hudson vs Marblehead 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).
Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k median).
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 | Marblehead | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
20,413Highest |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
49.1±2Highest 23% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Marblehead 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Marblehead 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% |
78.3% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hudson and Marblehead 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 |
$182,132±$28k 75% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Bolton and Marblehead 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 |
$943,900±$31kHighest 68% above MA |
$796,000±$49k 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,764±$147Highest about the MA average |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
| Marblehead 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 |
$8,309 39% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
49.5%±8.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marblehead 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 MA: 10% |
4.4% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.2% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1944Lowest 20 yrs older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Marblehead 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 | #47 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Marblehead | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Marblehead High | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.7 |
12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.