Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers 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).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Bolton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.7%).
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 | Danvers | Bolton | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
28,098Highest |
5,737Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.2±1.7Lowest 3% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.7%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 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 |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$205,449±$31kHighest 98% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$796,000±$49kHighest 42% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,583±$1k 10% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and Hudson 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% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
2.9%Lowest MA: 10% |
4.7% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
94.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1988Highest 24 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
37 minHighest 26% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Nashoba | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Nashoba Regional | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.0 |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.