Compare towns
Hudson vs Northbridge vs Whitman
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).
Whitman has the youngest population (median age 40.4).
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 | Whitman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
16,458 |
15,295Lowest |
| 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±1.7 7% above MA |
43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
40.4±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
| Northbridge and Hudson 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% |
21.1%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.4%±2.1 MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Northbridge 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% MA: 47.3% |
31.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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±$19kHighest 7% above MA |
$108,933±$14k 5% above MA |
| Northbridge and Whitman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$448,600±$15kLowest 20% below MA |
$472,700±$12k 16% below MA |
| Hudson and Whitman 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±$102Lowest 31% below MA |
$1,771±$151Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,821Lowest 20% below MA |
$5,824 about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.2%±9.8 MA: 51.8% |
61.9%±13.4Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Whitman and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
71.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1973Highest 9 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 min 7% above MA |
36 minHighest 24% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
16.2%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
10.8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #191 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Northbridge | Whitman-Hanson |
| 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.