What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).

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	Methuen
People
Population	25,557Lowest	53,475Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.	39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Methuen 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.	$113,310±$7kLowest 40% above U.S.
	Hudson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.	$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S.	$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S.
	Methuen and Hudson 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.	$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	28 minLowest 5% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#63 of 120 in NH	#236 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Methuen
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Methuen High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Lowest	13.1Highest
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.