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Living in
Hudson.
About
Life in Hudson
The median household income sits around $94,000, housing is reasonable at a median of $393,000 for a home and $1,359 for rent, and the job market is tight with unemployment at 3.7%, so if you're working locally or have flexibility, you'll find opportunity. It's a county seat with about 15,000 residents, which means real infrastructure—schools, healthcare, services—without the sprawl or chaos of a major metro, though you're only about 23 minutes from St. Paul on average if you need urban amenities or a bigger job market.
Hudson at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Foreign-Born
5.3%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
+1.8%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics5.3% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hudson: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hudson, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (14.1%), and 3.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
19.8%
of residents
65 and Older
19.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.2%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
35.3%
of households
Married Couples
43.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.24
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 25% above WI average
Rent, home values, and income in Hudson
In Hudson, rent runs 25% above the WI average, and home values are 47% above the WI average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
40.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
16.5%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
104.8
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$5,054
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
66.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1995
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $498,515 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.5 pts above WI average
Unemployment in Hudson
Unemployment in St. Croix County, which includes Hudson, is 0.5 percentage points higher than the WI average.
Unemployment rate
Hudson: St. Croix County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
St. Croix County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Hudson Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.4 min avg
How Hudson residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hudson, most residents drive alone to work (71%), and 69% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 24 mi
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field (MSP)
Major hub17.5M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 66% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hudson runs 66% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
112.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,637.5
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hudson Police Department
Natural DisastersWinter Storm most common — 18 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Low
64.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
St. Croix County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In St. Croix County, which includes Hudson, the most common type is winter storm, with 18 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 | Winter Weather | None reported |
| 2024 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2023 | 22 | Hail | $11,000 |
| 2022 | 8 | Hail | None reported |
| 2021 | 8 | Hail | $1.0M |
| 2020 | 8 | Winter Storm | $8.0M |
| 2019 | 11 | Winter Storm | None reported |
| 2018 | 8 | Winter Storm | None reported |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
0 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
St. Croix County, county-wide
Air Quality34 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Washington County, MN (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 9 miles from Hudson) is typically good — 224 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
34
Good Days
224
per year
Moderate Days
12
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Washington County, MN (9 mi away)
Climate84°F summers, 13°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hudson has warm summers (avg high 84°F) and very cold winters (avg low 13°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
59°/37°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
84°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
61°/42°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
30°/13°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
35.1"
Annual Snowfall
49.7"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
147
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27°F | 9°F | 0.98" |
| Feb | 32°F | 14°F | 0.93" |
| Mar | 45°F | 25°F | 1.47" |
| Apr | 60°F | 38°F | 3.11" |
| May | 73°F | 50°F | 4.23" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 5.36" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.54" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 5.29" |
| Sep | 76°F | 55°F | 3.19" |
| Oct | 62°F | 42°F | 3.16" |
| Nov | 45°F | 28°F | 1.65" |
| Dec | 32°F | 16°F | 1.15" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 5.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hudson
Hudson has 1 hospital, averaging 5.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.1%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
5.0 / 5
Hudson Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Lakeview Memorial Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 7.2 mi away · Stillwater
River Falls Area Hospital
Critical Access Hospitals · ER available · 9.3 mi away · River Falls
M Health Fairview Woodwinds Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.5 mi away · Woodbury
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hudson
Hudson's student/teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 43.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
2
within city limits
College Degree Rate
43.1%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hudson (within 15 miles)
University of Wisconsin-River Falls
9.3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 4,205 students · in-state tuition $9,436 · 63% graduate · median earnings $56,914 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Mississippi National River & Recreation Area, 18 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hudson
Hudson has 2 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (18 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area
National River & Recreation Area
18 mi awaySaint Croix National Scenic Riverway
National Scenic Riverway
54 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hudson
Hudson Area Joint Library
700 1st St., Hudson
Cities Near Hudson
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hudson?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hudson FAQ
Is Hudson, Wisconsin affordable?⌄
Hudson's median rent is $1,359/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $93,937/year. Median home value is $392,700.
Is Hudson, Wisconsin safe?⌄
Hudson's violent crime rate was 113 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1638 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hudson, Wisconsin?⌄
St. Croix County, which includes Hudson, has an unemployment rate of 3.7%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hudson, Wisconsin?⌄
The cost of living in Hudson is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,359/month and median household income is $93,937/year. The median home value is $392,700. About 40% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hudson, Wisconsin?⌄
The average commute in Hudson is 23 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from