Compare towns
Hudson vs Acton vs Windham
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
24,155 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% 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%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Acton 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Acton 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±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
| Windham and Acton 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155 41% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Acton-Boxborough | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
13.5Highest |
12.8 |
| 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.