Compare towns
Hudson vs West Newbury vs Dedham
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 affordable homes ($497k median).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
Dedham has the shortest commute (29 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.
| Measure | Hudson | West Newbury | Dedham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
4,591Lowest |
25,237Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.5±3Highest 24% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| West Newbury and Hudson 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% |
21.3%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and West Newbury 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% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
55% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA |
$661,800±$16k 18% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,675±$674 5% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
| Dedham and West Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$9,240Highest 54% above MA |
$7,918 32% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
| West Newbury and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
1.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1983Highest 19 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 8% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.5%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
| West Newbury and Dedham 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 | #86 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Pentucket | Dedham |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Pentucket Regional Sr High | Dedham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.6Highest |
10.4 |
| 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.