Compare towns
Hudson vs Needham 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 youngest population (median age 42.9).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
32,459Highest |
15,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Hudson and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest 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% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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±$13k about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183Highest 37% above MA |
$1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,597Lowest 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1968 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%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | — | — |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — |
| 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.