Hudson, MA 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

Hudson is a small town in Eastern Massachusetts popular for its abundant outdoor recreation. Situated between numerous lakes and preserves, retirees enjoy boating, fishing, and hiking, as well as shopping and dining in its active downtown. Besides this, its proximity to Boston makes 55+ communities in Hudson popular with active adults.

Climate & Geography

A far west suburb of Boston, Hudson has a humid continental climate: summers are hot and can be very humid, and winters are cold. Precipitation is even throughout the year, and residents can expect higher than average rainfall and snowfall. As Hudson is further inland, it doesn’t receive moderating sea breezes, and temperatures can reach extremes.

Recreation, Culture & Entertainment

Hudson is popular for its outdoor recreation. The Assabet River Trail runs along the river through the city, and the Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge to the east of the city has even more public trails for wildlife viewing. The Fort Meadow Reservoir allows motorized boating, and Lake Boon is a popular fishing destination. Other popular nearby outdoor areas include Danforth Falls for its waterfall and Callahan State Park for its seven miles of trails.

The city’s Main Street has been recently revitalized, featuring local coffee shops, trendy restaurants, boutiques, and a microbrewery. The Town Hall hosts a Tuesday evening farmers market with live local music.
Residents also enjoy the Charter Oaks Golf Club, as well as other courses in neighboring towns. Boston is under an hour away, giving residents even more opportunities for larger scale shopping and dining.

Cost of Living & Taxes

Hudson’s cost of living is higher than the national average. While health care is far below average, all other factors are above average, especially housing costs.

Massachusetts is moderately tax friendly for retirees. The state does not tax Social Security or public pensions, but it does tax all other forms of retirement income at the state’s rate of 5.1 percent. Property taxes are average, and retirees above the age of 65 can be eligible for the Circuit Breaker Credit to reduce their property taxes. Sales taxes are lower than average.

Health Care

The Boston metro area, which includes 55+ communities in Hudson, ranks in the top 30 communities in the U.S. according to Gallup’s Well-Being Index. The same survey ranks Massachusetts in the top 17 states.

Although there are no hospitals in Hudson, UMass Memorial-Marlborough Hospital is located in neighboring Marlborough. Nearby high performing hospitals as rated by U.S. News include Emerson Hospital in Concord, MetroWest Medical Center in Framingham, and UMass Memorial Medical Center and St.Vincent Hospital located in Worcester. The closest nationally ranked hospitals are McLean Hospital in Belmont and Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.