| Weather | | How much crime? | | What are the neighborhoods like? | | What are the people like? |
| Since Hudson is located not just on the St. Croix River but right next to Minnesota, the winters are bitterly cold. An average of 40 inches of snow a winter, with several storms that dump as much to a foot of snow in one day. The winds are blistery and it can pretty miserable. But the flipside is that the summers are great. Warm breezes coming off the river and since nearly all of Hudson is within spitting distance of the riverbank, it's a great antidote to the lousy winter weather. | | Most of the crime tends to be tourist-related. Minor thefts, car break-ins and the occasional drunken rampages near the central district bars and clubs. The major crime rate is much lower than in neighboring Minnesota and while there had been a serious drug culture in the 80s and 90s, most of that has left for less gentrified surroundings. | | The central business district and the nearby residential units are the best part of town. Hudson in general has an above-average income, but the area radiating out from 2nd Street is by far the most desirable part of town. It's filled with renovated Victorian houses and older brick businesses that have undergone serious renovation. The least desirable part of Hudson is the northern edge that borders nearby North Hudson. The housing is a mix of older ranch houses and tired duplexes. It's not uncommon to see junk in a front yard or a few random cars up on blocks in the driveway. | | The people are generally friendly and down-to-earth. Part of that attitude is because it's a tourist town, but it's also because Hudson feels like a small town. The population is primarily white, working class families and a scattering of upper-income residents who commute into the twin cities. While the population isn't all that culturally or racially diverse, the residents are less concerned with the color of your skin than the amount of money in your pocket. |
| Downtown Area | | Restaurants | | Schools | | Single life |
| The downtown shopping area is immaculate, with a number of renovated stores, trendy bars and plenty of parking. | | Pier 500 is an expensive, but very impressive restaurant serving upscale American cuisine. The Agave Kitchen is a fantastic Southwestern fusion restaurant with very reasonable prices. | | The Hudson public schools have struggled in recent years, but have now become one of the selling points to families considering a move into the city. | | There are a lot of opportunities for singles. A number of bars are located downtown and the tourism-rich summers insure you'll see a lot of new (and single) faces. |
| town comparison vs. | | General comments | | | | |
| Lakeland, Minnesota is just across the river from Hudson and despite the name it's more industrial and less family-friendly. The remnants of several warehouse districts mar the waterfront and it has many fewer small businesses than Hudson. North Hudson is a smaller town to the North and it's feels much older than Hudson. Less gentrification, older housing stock and an older population that just seems less hip and still living in the 1990s. | | It's a friendly town with not a lot of attitude. The atmosphere is a lot like a college town, without the students. Lots of activities, lots of public events and the location next to the St. Croix River makes it a great spot to just hang out and enjoy the summer. It's a small town feel, but you're also living within a 20 minute commute to the Twin Cities. | | | | |
