Signals
Hudson
Cambridge
Opportunity
61 · Top 39%
vs73 · Top 17%
Climate
60 · Bottom 14%
vs65 · Bottom 36%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 14%
vs88 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
75 · Bottom 41%
vs41 · Bottom 5%
Schools
55 · Top 45%
vs74 · Top 21%
Access
87 · Bottom 34%
vs99 · Top 14%
Economic stability
70 · Top 29%
vs58 · Bottom 45%
Measured values
| Metric | Hudson | Cambridge | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,719 | 118,796 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,524 | $130,748 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $50,737 | $78,723 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 2,736/sq mi | 18,571/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $473,300 | $1,092,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,397 | $2,787 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 68.0% | 33.5% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 43.5% | 80.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 6.3% | 12.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 83°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 16°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.4" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 29 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 31.7 min | 28.0 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 43.8 | 30.4 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 5 | 25 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.05 | 9.92 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 25.9% | 37.5% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 43.6% | 54.6% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Hudson
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Cambridge
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: Hudson, MA · Cambridge, MA · How this is calculated: methodology