Compare towns
Hudson vs Needham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($366k 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.
| Measure | Hudson | Needham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557 |
32,459Highest |
7,469Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
46.3±3.4Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$95,842±$19kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$366,400±$24kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,722±$86Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,729Lowest 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 19% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.