Compare towns
Hudson vs Northbridge vs Upton vs Berlin
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 youngest population (median age 42.9).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Upton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
16,458 |
8,189 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Upton 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%±2.9 MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Upton and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$111,319±$19k 7% above MA |
$155,508±$33kHighest 50% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Upton and Berlin 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,207±$102 31% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$8,376Highest 40% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Upton and Berlin 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973 9 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
35 minHighest 22% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Northbridge | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Northbridge High | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.8 |
11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.