Compare towns
Hudson vs Northbridge vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Sutton has the highest household income ($147k).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
16,458 |
9,452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.3±2.5Highest 11% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21.1%±2.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
| Northbridge and Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
36.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
52.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$147,125±$25kHighest 42% above MA |
| Sutton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$523,100±$47kHighest 7% below MA |
| Sutton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Highest 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$6,763 13% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
| Northbridge and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
31 minHighest 7% above MA |
30 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Sutton 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Northbridge | Sutton |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Northbridge High | Sutton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.8 |
12.6Highest |
| 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.