Compare towns
Hudson vs Methuen vs Hudson
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 people working from home (19.6%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hudson has the most renters (32% rent).
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 | Methuen | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
53,475Highest |
15,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Hudson 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% |
21.3%±1.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.6Lowest 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
31%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$113,310±$7kHighest 9% above MA |
$90,524±$9kLowest 13% below 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±$22k 12% below MA |
$499,700±$17kHighest 11% below MA |
$473,300±$15kLowest 16% 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±$82 20% below MA |
$1,749±$91Highest about the MA average |
$1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$5,061Lowest 16% below MA |
$6,597 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.4%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.4%±8.5Lowest 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% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
72.3% MA: 62.5% |
68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 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 |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson and Hudson 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #224 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 | 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.