What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.8%).

Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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	Dedham
People
Population	25,557Highest	25,237Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.	44.6±1.6Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Hudson and Dedham 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%	18.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dedham and Hudson 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%	55%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.6%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Dedham 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.	$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S.
	Dedham and Hudson 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.	$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S.	$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S.	$7,918Highest 154% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	29 minLowest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Dedham and Hudson 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	#119 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Dedham
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Dedham High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.