Compare towns
Kensington vs Northbridge vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Kensington | Northbridge | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
16,458 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 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+ | 18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| Kensington and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 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 | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 8% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hudson and Kensington 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 | — | #226 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Kensington School District | Northbridge | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Northbridge High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.8Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.