Compare towns
Hatfield vs Hudson vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Hudson | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,325Lowest |
20,077Highest |
5,656 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.8±5 17% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$103,400±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
| Hudson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$496,800±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
| Hudson and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,770±$444Highest about the MA average |
| Salisbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,930 18% below MA |
$6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 minHighest 6% above MA |
30 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salisbury 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hatfield | Hudson | — |
| High school in town | Smith Academy | Hudson High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 6.1Lowest |
10.2Highest |
— |
| 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.