What stands out worked out from the figures below

Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

Hudson has the most expensive 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Topsham	Hudson
People
Population	9,706Lowest	20,077Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.7±4Highest 15% above U.S.	42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Topsham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22%	19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Topsham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Topsham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	50%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Topsham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S.	$103,400±$13kHighest 28% above U.S.
	Hudson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S.	$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S.	$1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average
	Hudson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S.	$6,892Highest 121% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	40.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hudson and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 11% below U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hudson and Topsham 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	#66 of 133 in ME	#224 of 282 in MA
School district	RSU 75/MSAD 75	Hudson
High school in town	Mt Ararat High School	Hudson High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.2Highest	10.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.