Compare towns
Hudson vs Nelson vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | Nelson | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
648Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,583±$1kHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Bolton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 121% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hudson and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Nelson 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 | — | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Nelson School District | 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.