Compare towns
Hudson vs Newton vs Strafford
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).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Strafford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Newton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
4,836 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7Highest 23% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1 19% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Strafford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Strafford and Newton 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 28% above U.S. |
$138,487±$29kHighest 72% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22k 51% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$459,500±$18k 38% above U.S. |
$427,900±$29kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$96Highest 19% above U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Newton and Strafford 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. |
$8,124Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,086Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 15% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson | Sanborn Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.