What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).

Norton has the highest household income ($125k).

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	Norton
People
Population	20,077Highest	19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest MA: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA	39.6±1.2Lowest about the MA average
Kids under 18	19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4%	17.3%±2.3Lowest MA: 19.4%
	Hudson and Norton 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%	17.4%±1.9Lowest MA: 17.9%
	Hudson and Norton 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%	45.8%Lowest MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9%	12.9%±1Highest MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average	$124,535±$11kHighest 20% above MA
	Norton 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	$501,400±$27kHighest 11% below MA
	Norton 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	$1,911±$375Highest 8% above MA
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Highest 15% above MA	$5,929Lowest about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8%	46.6%±8.9Highest MA: 51.8%
	Norton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.3%Highest MA: 10%	4.7%Lowest MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5%	83.8%Highest MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA	1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 6% above MA	33 minHighest 12% above MA
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6%	19%±3.2Lowest MA: 18.6%
	Hudson and Norton 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	#173 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson	Norton
High school in town	Hudson High	Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	10.9Highest
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.