Compare towns
Hudson vs Dalton vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Hudson | Dalton | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
6,256Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9k 13% below MA |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$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 | $473,300±$15kHighest 16% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$448,600±$15k 20% below MA |
| Hudson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Highest 21% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 10% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,821 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson and Northbridge 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Central Berkshire | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Wahconah Regional High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.