Compare towns

Hudson vs Pelham vs Worcester

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).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
Worcester has the most renters (57.2% 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.

MeasureHudsonPelhamWorcester
People
Population
25,557
14,449Lowest
207,055Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+14.1%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±1.9Highest
17% above U.S.
41.5±2.7
7% above U.S.
33.9±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
Hudson and Pelham 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%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.6%±0.8
U.S.: 22%
Pelham and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
13.3%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hudson and Pelham 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%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.1%±0.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,213±$6k
54% above U.S.
$135,956±$19kHighest
68% above U.S.
$70,102±$2kLowest
13% below U.S.
Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$438,900±$11k
32% above U.S.
$552,600±$27kHighest
66% above U.S.
$374,400±$7kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,735±$123Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,425±$88Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,487±$38
5% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,636
113% above U.S.
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,733Lowest
52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
34.3%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
67.3%±12.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.2%±2.9
U.S.: 51.1%
Pelham and Worcester 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%
19.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
42.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1951Lowest
29 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
19% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
11.5%±1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #63 of 120 in NH #48 of 120 in NH #266 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson School District Pelham School District Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester
High school in town Alvirne High School Pelham High School South High Community
Students per teacherat that high school
11.6
10.4Lowest
14.6Highest
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.