Hudson is a bedroom community about 10 miles from Cedar Falls
Just over 2,500 people live in the quiet city of Hudson, about 10 miles from Cedar Falls and Waterloo. “It’s a nice bedroom community,” says longtime resident Sue Scarbrough, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices One Realty Centre. “The people are wonderful. The school system is wonderful.” There is one sit-down restaurant and several parks, although residents often travel to the neighboring cities. Hudson has a CAP Index Crime Score of 1 out of 10, compared to the national average of 4.
A mix of century-old homes and new construction in the neighborhoods
Shaded lawns line the wide roads in Hudson. Houses downtown are close together on lots that are half an acre or less. Properties in the northern part of the city are more spaced out, often exceeding 1 acre. “You have a mix of homes because you have a town that was founded in 1857,” Scarbrough says. The oldest residences are near the city center and date back to the late 1800s. Some early-20th-century Foursquares and cottages often feature gambrel roofs. Midcentury ranch-style houses and split-levels are farther out, and New Traditional developments are towards the north. Older properties typically cost $140,000 to $360,000, while newer homes range from $420,000 to $600,000.
Hudson Community Schools is split between two campuses
Students attend Hudson Community Schools. “It’s great to raise your kids in a smaller school community,” Scarbrough says. Hudson Elementary, which serves kindergarten through fourth grade, shares a campus with Hudson Middle, which teaches up to sixth grade. Seventh and eighth graders attend the junior high addition of Hudson High. Both campuses earn a B-plus from Niche. The high school’s reputable fine arts program includes instrumental and vocal music and a drama department that puts on two shows a year.
Residents rely on cars to reach nearby cities
Most people use cars to get around, with major highways like U.S. Route 63 and U.S. Route 20 passing through the city. “If you live in the main part of town, you may walk to the post office, but it’s still rural,” Scarbrough says. “You need your car.” Covenant Medical Center is in Waterloo, less than 10 miles away. Waterloo Regional Airport is only 13 miles away and offers nonstop flights to Chicago. Many residents will drive the 110 miles to Des Moines International Airport, which has direct service to over 30 destinations.
Besides one Mexican restaurant, locals eat in Waterloo and Cedar Falls
Apart from Taqueria Bar La Penca, a Mexican restaurant downtown, people travel to one of the neighboring cities for a bite. Bigfoot Betty’s is a casual eatery in Cedar Falls known for its pork tenderloin. At The Brown Bottle in Waterloo, locals enjoy Italian food in the Historical Russell Lamson Building lobby. Hudson residents get groceries from Randall’s Stop ‘N Shop. Walmart, Target and Lowe’s are all about 8 miles away.
Parks have playgrounds, athletic fields and access to Black Hawk Creek
City Park is at the center of Hudson, with a splash pad and several picnic tables. One of the many play structures at the park is built to look like a pirate ship. At Franck Park, kayakers can access the Black Hawk Creek Waterway Trail, which goes to Waterloo. School teams and local sports leagues practice on the fields at the Hudson Athletic Complex. Golfers can play six holes at the public Beech Nut Golf Course.
Hudson Days celebrates the community
Hudson Days is a three-day community celebration every July, with programming that includes a 5K, a movie night and tournaments for volleyball and pickleball. One highlight is the Fireman’s Dance, where the fire station turns into a dance club with live music for one night. “We just go there to eat,” Scarbrough says. There are plenty of food trucks, vendors and a beer garden all weekend long. Other events include Business Boo, a trick-or-treating outing downtown, and the annual visit from Santa during the holidays.
