What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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	Lawrence
People
Population	25,557Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kHighest 32% above U.S.	$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Hudson and Lawrence 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.	$1,662±$50Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Hudson and Lawrence 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.	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 120 in NH	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Lawrence
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	13.6Highest
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.