Compare towns
Nelson vs Hudson vs Northbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Northbridge has the highest household income ($111k).
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 | Nelson | Hudson | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
20,077Highest |
16,458 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and Northbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.3Highest 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 | $99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19kHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Northbridge and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$496,800±$22kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15k 35% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,207±$102 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 79% above U.S. |
$6,892Highest 121% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 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 | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #224 of 282 in MA | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nelson School District | Hudson | Northbridge |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
10.8Highest |
| 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.