Compare towns
Hudson vs Peabody 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 homeowners (73.2%).
Peabody has the most expensive homes ($596k median).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($473k median).
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 | Peabody | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
54,695Highest |
15,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±2.4Highest 13% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Peabody and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.7%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
24.3%±1.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Peabody 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% |
35%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
43.5% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Peabody 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±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$96,657±$4k 7% below MA |
$90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
| Hudson and Peabody 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 |
$596,200±$12kHighest 6% above MA |
$473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,950±$99Highest 11% above MA |
$1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$5,065Lowest 15% below MA |
$6,597 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
58.3%±5.9Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.7%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
65.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1966Lowest 2 yrs newer than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
26 minLowest 11% below MA |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
10.3%±1.6Lowest 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 | #228 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Peabody | — |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Peabody Veterans Memorial High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.