Compare towns
Marlborough vs Sutton vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Marlborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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 | Marlborough | Sutton | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 41,647Highest |
9,452Lowest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.5±1.3Lowest 6% below MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Sutton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Marlborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±1.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Marlborough and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,968±$9kLowest 12% below MA |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $513,100±$28k 9% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Sutton and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,871±$123Highest 6% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,747Lowest 4% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.9%±6.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Marlborough and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min about the MA average |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 16.2%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #215 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Assabet Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Marlborough | Sutton | Hudson |
| High school in town | Assabet Valley Vocational High School | Sutton High School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA 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.