Compare towns
Hudson vs Bow vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most renters (32% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hudson | Bow | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
8,335Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15k 42% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Bow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Bow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597 112% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.