What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).

Billerica has the most expensive homes ($612k median).

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	Billerica
People
Population	25,557Lowest	42,003Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.	43.3±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Hudson and Billerica 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%	18%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Billerica and Hudson 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%	18%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Billerica 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%	40%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Billerica 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.	$148,200±$8kHighest 84% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.	$612,000±$13kHighest 84% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S.	$2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest 113% above U.S.	$6,358Lowest 104% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42.3%±8.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Billerica and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	79.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hudson and Billerica 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	#63 of 120 in NH	#146 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Billerica Memorial High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	14.1Highest
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.