Compare towns
Dedham 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
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Dedham | Hudson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,237Highest |
20,077 |
16,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Dedham | Hudson | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Dedham High | Hudson High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
10.2Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.