Compare towns
Hudson vs Merrimac 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).
Merrimac has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Merrimac | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
6,748 |
5,737Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
49.4±6.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Merrimac and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Hudson 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac 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% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hudson and Bolton 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 |
$123,054±$16k 18% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
| Bolton and Hudson 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 |
$7,399 23% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3% MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Pentucket | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.