What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hudson has the most people working from home (19.6%).

Northbridge has the most kids (21.1% under 18).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hudson	Northbridge
People
Population	25,557Highest	16,458Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.7±1.9Highest 17% above U.S.	43.8±2.6Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Hudson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22%
	Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	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+	34.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hudson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,213±$6kHighest 54% above U.S.	$111,319±$19kLowest 38% above U.S.
	Hudson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$438,900±$11kLowest 32% above U.S.	$448,600±$15kHighest 35% above U.S.
	Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,735±$123Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,636Highest 113% above U.S.	$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.3%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 19% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	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	#63 of 120 in NH	#226 of 282 in MA
School district	Hudson School District	Northbridge
High school in town	Alvirne High School	Northbridge High
Students per teacherat that high school	11.6Highest	10.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.