Compare towns
Hudson vs Beverly 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 oldest population (median age 43.8).
Beverly has the most expensive homes ($650k 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 | Beverly | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
42,665Highest |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6Highest 9% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
| Hudson and Plainville 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% |
18.5%±1.8Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Beverly 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% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest 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% |
53.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$106,044±$7kHighest about the MA average |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Beverly 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±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$650,300±$13kHighest 16% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
| Plainville and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597 10% above MA |
$6,836Highest 14% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Beverly and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 4 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 4% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Beverly | Plainville |
| High school in town | — | Beverly High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2 |
— |
| 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.