Compare towns
Hudson vs Needham vs Nashua
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 oldest population (median age 45.7).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Lowest |
32,459 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hudson and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Needham 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2% 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%±0.6Lowest 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. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,737±$41 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% 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% |
45.8%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #63 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Needham | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Needham High | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Lowest |
11.9 |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.