What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the youngest population (median age 45.7).

Kennebunk has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.8%).

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	Kennebunk
People
Population	25,557Highest	11,820Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Kennebunk 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%	30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S.	$107,804±$8kLowest 34% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.	$487,700±$21kHighest 47% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,425±$290Lowest about the U.S. average
	Hudson and Kennebunk 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.	$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	37.1%±10.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Kennebunk 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%	7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1983 3 yrs newer 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%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 120 in NH	#9 of 133 in ME
School district	Hudson School District	RSU 21
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Kennebunk High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6	11.6
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.