Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers vs South Hadley vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
South Hadley has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | South Hadley | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
28,098Highest |
17,754Lowest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
42.6±2.6 7% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 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%±2 MA: 19.4% |
12.8%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Hudson 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%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| South Hadley and Danvers 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% |
50.2% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
18.7%±1.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$93,910±$15kLowest 10% below MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$357,900±$19kLowest 36% below MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Danvers and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,325±$54Lowest 25% 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 |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$5,500Lowest 8% below MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.7%±10.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Danvers and South Hadley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1961Lowest 3 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
24 minLowest 19% below MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
17.3%±4.6Lowest 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #216 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | South Hadley | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | South Hadley High | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
12.8Highest |
8.6Lowest |
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.