Compare towns
Hudson vs Plainfield vs Bolton
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 renters (26.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k 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 | Plainfield | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
616Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
| Plainfield and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Bolton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,583±$1kHighest 10% below MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100 MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Hudson and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
94.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
37 min 26% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
40.5%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Bolton and Plainfield 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 | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| 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.