Compare towns
Hudson vs New Gloucester 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
New Gloucester has the most affordable homes ($357k 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 | New Gloucester | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
5,766Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester 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% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$9kLowest 12% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and New Gloucester 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. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% 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±$83Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 112% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$4,821 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 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%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #65 of 133 in ME | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | RSU 15/MSAD 15 | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.8 |
| 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.