Compare towns
Hudson vs Westminster 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 people working from home (18.3%).
Westminster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.9%).
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 | Westminster | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
8,374Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+12.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
48.3±4.6Highest 21% above MA |
43.8±2.6Lowest 9% above MA |
| Westminster 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% |
21.3%±4.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
| Westminster and Northbridge 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% |
26%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Westminster 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% |
45.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
1.8%±1.2Lowest 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±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$106,331±$22k about the MA average |
$111,319±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
| Northbridge and Westminster 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 |
$422,000±$36kLowest 25% 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±$83 21% below MA |
$1,843±$268Highest 5% above MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 10% above MA |
$4,973 17% below MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60%±27.3Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
| Westminster and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
2.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
87.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 4% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±4.2Lowest 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 | #112 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Ashburnham-Westminster | Northbridge |
| High school in town | — | Oakmont Regional High School | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.6Highest |
10.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.