Compare towns
Dalton 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
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Dalton | Hudson | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,256Lowest |
20,077 |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
| Mansfield and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 24% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 12.5%±7.1Lowest 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Hudson | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Wahconah Regional High | Hudson High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
10.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.