Compare towns
Hudson vs Northbridge vs Middleton
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 (19.6%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Northbridge | Middleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
16,458 |
9,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
43.1±2 8% above MA |
| Northbridge and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.1%±2.9 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
41.7% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.4Lowest 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 | $103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$167,402±$29kHighest 61% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$742,700±$48kHighest 32% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,407±$284Highest 20% below MA |
| Middleton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$8,785Highest 47% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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 | 5.3% MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
92.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1986Highest 22 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 minLowest 3% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #71 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Northbridge | Middleton |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.8Highest |
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| 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.