Compare towns

Hudson vs Woonsocket vs Bolton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Woonsocket has the most renters (62.8% rent).
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.

MeasureHudsonWoonsocketBolton
People
Population
20,077
43,521Highest
5,737Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+15.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.7Highest
10% above U.S.
35.7±1.3Lowest
8% below U.S.
41.2±1.7
6% above U.S.
Hudson and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.3%±2
U.S.: 22%
25%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Bolton and Woonsocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.1%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
14.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.7%±3.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
19.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Woonsocket 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
28% above U.S.
$61,059±$5kLowest
24% below U.S.
$205,449±$31kHighest
154% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$496,800±$22k
49% above U.S.
$311,000±$15kLowest
7% below U.S.
$796,000±$49kHighest
139% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$82
about the U.S. average
$1,161±$48Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,583±$1kHighest
12% above U.S.
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
121% above U.S.
$3,960Lowest
27% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.8%±8.7
U.S.: 51.1%
46.7%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
12.7%±45.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Woonsocket and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
18.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
37.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970
10 yrs older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
17% above U.S.
29 minLowest
11% above U.S.
37 minHighest
39% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
6.4%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
40.5%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #224 of 282 in MA #37 of 38 in RI #28 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson RISE Prep Mayoral Academy · Woonsocket Nashoba
High school in town Hudson High Woonsocket High School Nashoba Regional
Students per teacherat that high school
10.2Lowest
15.2Highest
12.0
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 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.