What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Smithfield has the shortest commute (25 min average).

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	Smithfield
People
Population	20,077Lowest	22,233Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.9±1.7Highest 10% above U.S.	41.8±2.6Lowest 7% above U.S.
	Hudson and Smithfield 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%	16.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Hudson and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Smithfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	16.7%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S.	$102,077±$8kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Hudson and Smithfield 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.	$446,400±$12kLowest 34% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average	$1,016±$241Lowest 28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,892Highest 121% above U.S.	$5,207Lowest 67% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	57.1%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Smithfield and Hudson 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%	6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	81.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	25 minLowest 7% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	14%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hudson and Smithfield 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	#8 of 38 in RI
School district	Hudson	Smithfield
High school in town	Hudson High	Smithfield High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.2Lowest	11.8Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.