What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

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	Hopkinton
People
Population	25,557Highest	6,037Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH	45±2.8Lowest 4% above NH
	Hudson and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hopkinton 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 NH: 20.1%	19.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hudson and Hopkinton 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 NH: 40.6%	58.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6%
	Hopkinton and Hudson 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 25% above NH	$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH
	Hopkinton 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 9% above NH	$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 16% above NH	$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Lowest about the NH average	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	42.4%±6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hopkinton 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 NH: 7.2%	6.5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	87.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hopkinton 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	#28 of 120 in NH
School district	Hudson School District	Hopkinton School District
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Hopkinton High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

NH 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.