Compare towns
Hudson vs Douglas 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 the most renters (32% rent).
Douglas has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Douglas | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
9,207Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
44±2.6Highest 10% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Douglas 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% |
21.2%±3.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Douglas 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 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±3.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Douglas 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 13% below MA |
$152,267±$10kHighest 46% above MA |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15kHighest 16% below MA |
$470,600±$29k 16% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
| Hudson and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83 21% below MA |
$1,503±$697Highest 15% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Douglas and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 10% above MA |
$6,338 6% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
33.9%±17.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
34 minHighest 16% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
20.9%±4.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Douglas 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 | #177 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Douglas | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Douglas High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 7.2Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.