Compare towns
Hudson vs Dedham 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).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k 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 | Dedham | Plainville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
25,237Highest |
9,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
43.2±3.6Lowest 8% above MA |
| Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.3%±4 MA: 19.4% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,977±$197 12% above MA |
| Dedham and Plainville 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% MA: 10% |
5.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4% 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 |
29 min about the MA average |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Dedham | Plainville |
| High school in town | — | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| 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.