Compare towns
Townsend vs Pelham 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
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Townsend | Pelham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,100Lowest |
14,449 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$124,213±$6k 54% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$438,900±$11k 32% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,636 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 12% above U.S. |
31 min 19% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pelham 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Middlesex | Pelham School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | Pelham High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.6 |
| 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.