Compare towns
Hudson vs Dalton 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Dalton | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
6,256Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Dalton and Hudson 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% |
20.6%±4.7 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest 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±$13k about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
| Mansfield and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Mansfield 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Central Berkshire | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Wahconah Regional High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.9 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.