Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem 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 highest household income ($103k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
44,795Highest |
15,719Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Hudson 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson 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% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson 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% MA: 47.3% |
47.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$90,524±$9k 13% below MA |
| Hudson 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±$22k 12% below MA |
$542,800±$18kHighest 3% below MA |
$473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,597 10% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
6.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
30 min 4% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Salem | — |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Salem High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.