What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the shortest commute (31 min average).

Sturbridge has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).

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	Sturbridge
People
Population	25,557Highest	9,960Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Lowest 17% above U.S.	47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S.
	Sturbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Sturbridge and Hudson 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%	19.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Sturbridge 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%	49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kLowest 54% above U.S.	$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S.
	Sturbridge 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±$11kHighest 32% above U.S.	$425,800±$18kLowest 28% above U.S.
	Hudson and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest 113% above U.S.	$6,520Lowest 109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	42%±17.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Sturbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.	38 minHighest 43% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sturbridge 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	#89 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Sturbridge · Tantasqua
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Tantasqua Regional Sr High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	7.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.