What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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	Walpole	Hudson
People
Population	26,388Highest	25,557Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.9±1.2Lowest 5% above U.S.	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.
Kids under 18	25.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	16.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hudson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	67.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$171,500±$16kHighest 112% above U.S.	$124,213±$6kLowest 54% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$687,100±$20kHighest 107% above U.S.	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,205±$222Highest 56% above U.S.	$1,735±$123Lowest 23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,523Highest 173% above U.S.	$6,636Lowest 113% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	37.8%±9.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Walpole and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	83.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	82.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 27% above U.S.	31 minLowest 19% above U.S.
Work from home	28.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#107 of 282 in MA	#63 of 120 in NH
School district	Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole	Hudson School District
High school in town	Walpole High	Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	11.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.