Compare towns
Ayer vs Hudson vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hudson has the most expensive homes ($497k median).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Hudson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Lowest |
20,077Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29k 17% below MA |
$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Hudson and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057 16% below MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hudson | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hudson High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
10.2Lowest |
10.8 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.