What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Marblehead has the most expensive homes ($944k 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	Marblehead
People
Population	25,557Highest	20,413Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Hudson 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%	22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Marblehead 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%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kLowest 54% above U.S.	$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.	$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S.	$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S.
	Marblehead and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S.	$8,309Highest 166% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	49.5%±8.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Marblehead and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 120 in NH	#47 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Marblehead
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Marblehead High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.7Lowest
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.