Compare towns
Hudson vs Acton vs Pelham
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 most affordable homes ($439k median).
Acton has the most people working from home (35.9%).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Acton | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
24,155 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6kLowest 54% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
| Acton and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27k 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Acton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Acton-Boxborough | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6 |
13.5Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.