Compare towns
Hudson vs Auburn vs Plainville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most renters (32% rent).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Hudson | Auburn | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
16,970Highest |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.8±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% 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 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$116,711±$10kHighest 12% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Auburn and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15k 16% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$476,000±$35kHighest 15% below MA |
| Plainville and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Highest 10% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson and Plainville 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Auburn | Plainville |
| High school in town | — | Auburn Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.