Compare towns
Auburn vs Hudson vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Auburn | Hudson | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,970Lowest |
20,077 |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
| Mansfield and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield and Hudson 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Hudson | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | Hudson High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.2Lowest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.