Bolton vs Hudson
marks the Massachusetts median on each scale. The better of the two is picked out where the gap is big enough to call; where neither is, they are level.
You are paying about $250k more for a 4BR in Bolton, and in exchange you get the stronger schools. That is the trade in plain terms: $250k for one tier of schooling.
Hudson is about 6 minutes closer to downtown Boston at peak. Over a decade of commuting that gap is worth more than most people price it at.
On tax, look past the rate: Hudson works out roughly $7,300 a year cheaper on its own median 4BR.
Choose Bolton if you want the stronger schools of the two.
All Bolton numbers →Choose Hudson if you want the lower price, or the commute matters most.
All Hudson numbers →Side by side
Some rows have no better. Town character describes a place rather than ranking it, and per-pupil spending tracks need rather than results, so neither is picked out.
SchoolsBolton ahead on 5 of 9, 1 against
| Bolton | Hudson | |
|---|---|---|
| School tier | strong schoolsT2 | solid schoolsT3 |
| MCAS achievement | 82nd | 29th |
| Student growth | 54th | 48th |
| Graduation rate | 94.2% | 87.4% |
| SchoolDigger rank | 45th of 361 | 220th of 361 |
| State accountability | Moderate progress toward targets | Moderate progress toward targets |
| Spending per pupil | $21,722 | $23,470 |
| Schools in the district | 5 | 4 |
| Private schools within 12 mi | 7 | 12 |
What a home costsHudson ahead on 7 of 8
| Bolton | Hudson | |
|---|---|---|
| 4BR house | $950kT3 | $700kT2 |
| 3BR townhouse | $720k | $540k |
| 2BR condo | $535k | $400k |
| 3BR home | $744k | $614k |
| 5+ BR home | $1.33M | $786k |
| 3BR rent | $3,617/mo | $3,180/mo |
| Income needed for the 4BR | $275k | $195k |
| 10-year price growth | 5.6% a year | 5.9% a year |
What you pay the townHudson ahead on 2 of 2
| Bolton | Hudson | |
|---|---|---|
| Tax rate | $18.07T4 | $14.14T3 |
| Est. tax bill on that 4BR | ≈$17,200 | ≈$9,900 |
Getting to workHudson ahead on 2 of 3
| Bolton | Hudson | |
|---|---|---|
| Commute to Boston | 66 minT4 | 60 minT3 |
| MBTA rail | No MBTA rail | No MBTA rail |
| Miles from downtown | 29 mi | 25 mi |
What the place is likeDescribes the two, does not rank them
| Bolton | Hudson | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,665 | 20,092 |
| Energy | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Compact center | 4/10 | 7/10 |
| Family amenities | 6/10 | 6/10 |
| Culture | 4/10 | 8/10 |
| Gathering places | 6/10 | 8/10 |
The tax bill is each town’s own rate on its own median 4BR, so a lower rate does not always mean a lower bill. School tiers are editorial, shown beside the state’s own MCAS figures rather than derived from them.
Prices calibrated to Zillow ZHVI and Redfin · FY2026 residential tax rates · rail leg from the MBTA timetable, drive modeled · rents are HUD FY2027 Small Area FMRs · reviewed · methodology. Never uses demographics as an input.
