Compare towns
Hudson vs Dedham vs Danvers 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).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Danvers has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Dedham | Danvers | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Lowest |
25,237 |
28,098Highest |
23,931 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
45.3±3Highest 13% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Danvers and Dedham 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% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2Lowest 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% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Danvers and Dedham 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% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$125,395±$10k 21% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,076±$192Highest 18% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Danvers and Dedham 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 |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
5.6%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Dedham | — | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Dedham High | — | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.4 |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.