Compare towns

Hudson vs Methuen vs Milton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Methuen has the most renters (27.7% rent).
Milton has the most expensive homes ($933k 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.

MeasureHudsonMethuenMilton
People
Population
25,557Lowest
53,475Highest
28,587
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
+6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
39.9±1.7Lowest
about the U.S. average
41.1±1.8
6% above U.S.
Kids under 18
16.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
25.3%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±1.8Lowest
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%
U.S.: 35.7%
31%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
9.7%±1.1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Milton 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±$6k
54% above U.S.
$113,310±$7kLowest
40% above U.S.
$188,529±$15kHighest
134% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$438,900±$11kLowest
32% above U.S.
$499,700±$17k
50% above U.S.
$933,200±$31kHighest
180% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123
23% above U.S.
$1,749±$91Highest
24% above U.S.
$1,474±$281Lowest
4% 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
$6,636
113% above U.S.
$5,061Lowest
62% above U.S.
$9,677Highest
210% 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%
45.7%±20.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Methuen and Milton 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%
7.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
72.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.2%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1968
12 yrs older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
28 minLowest
5% above U.S.
31 min
19% above U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
12.2%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.7%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 120 in NH #236 of 282 in MA #55 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson School District Methuen Milton
High school in town Alvirne High School Methuen High Milton High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6Lowest
13.1Highest
12.4
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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.