Compare towns
Nashua vs Acton 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
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
Hudson has the most homeowners (82.6%).
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 | Nashua | Acton | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 91,294Highest |
24,155Lowest |
25,557 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$41 23% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,799 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #67 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashua School District | Acton-Boxborough | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Nashua High School South | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
13.5Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.