Compare towns
Hudson vs Epping 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 expensive homes ($473k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).
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 | Epping | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
7,430Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Northbridge and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| 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±$83 about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Epping 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. |
$6,936Highest 122% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Northbridge 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.