What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

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	Methuen
People
Population	20,077Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4% MA: +7.4%	—
Median age	42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA	39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average
	Hudson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4%	21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4%
	Methuen 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 MA: 17.9%	17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hudson and Methuen 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%	31%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average	$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA
	Methuen 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	$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA
	Methuen and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA	$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Highest 15% above MA	$5,061Lowest 16% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8%
	Methuen and Hudson 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%	7.9%Highest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Highest MA: 62.5%	72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA	1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 6% above MA	28 minLowest 5% below MA
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#224 of 282 in MA	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson	Methuen
High school in town	Hudson High	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	13.1Highest
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.