Compare towns
Hudson vs Hampden 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).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | Hampden | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
7,896Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampden 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% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Hampden 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% |
45.9%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% |
5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampden 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. |
$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Northbridge 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. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below 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±$83Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,286±$317 9% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Hudson and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 22 | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Hampden Academy | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
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.