What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	25,557Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.	44±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Hudson and Douglas 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%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas 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%	15.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Douglas 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%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Douglas 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.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Douglas and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Hudson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest 113% above U.S.	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hudson and Douglas 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%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Douglas
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	7.2Lowest
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.