Compare towns

Hudson vs Bolton vs Mansfield

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 affordable homes ($497k median).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
Mansfield has the most renters (26.9% rent).

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.

MeasureHudsonBoltonMansfield
People
Population
20,077
5,737Lowest
23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
+15.7%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.7Highest
7% above MA
41.2±1.7Lowest
3% above MA
41.4±1.3
4% above MA
Hudson and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.3%±2.5Lowest
MA: 19.4%
25%±3.9Highest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4
MA: 19.4%
Bolton and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.1%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.7%±3.2
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Hudson and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
46.1%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
81.9%Highest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1
MA: 7.9%
3.6%±1.5Lowest
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
$103,400±$13kLowest
about the MA average
$205,449±$31kHighest
98% above MA
$125,273±$15k
21% above MA
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$496,800±$22kLowest
12% below MA
$796,000±$49kHighest
42% above MA
$603,500±$28k
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$82Lowest
20% below MA
$1,583±$1k
10% below MA
$1,803±$147Highest
about the MA average
Mansfield and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,892Lowest
15% above MA
$10,000+Highest
at least 67% above MA
$7,226
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.8%±8.7Highest
MA: 51.8%
12.7%±45.6Lowest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5
MA: 51.8%
Hudson and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.3%Highest
MA: 10%
2.9%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.7%
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
MA: 62.5%
94.7%Highest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1988Highest
24 yrs newer than MA
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
6% above MA
37 minHighest
26% above MA
33 min
13% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±3.6Lowest
MA: 18.6%
40.5%±6.9Highest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4
MA: 18.6%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #224 of 282 in MA #28 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson Nashoba Mansfield
High school in town Hudson High Nashoba Regional Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.2Lowest
12.0Highest
11.1
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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.