Compare towns
Nelson vs Hudson vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Nelson | Hudson | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
20,077Highest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Highest 16% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hudson and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #224 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Nelson School District | Hudson | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| 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.