Compare towns
Hudson vs Lee vs Berlin vs Mansfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Lee | Berlin | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
5,719 |
3,378Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
55.2±5.8Highest 38% above MA |
49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Lee and Berlin 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% |
12.6%±5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5 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% |
33.4%±6.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Lee and Berlin 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% |
44.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5%±2.1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Lee 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 |
$83,750±$13kLowest 19% below MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
| Mansfield and Berlin 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 |
$352,700±$19kLowest 37% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$1,375±$212Lowest 22% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
| Berlin 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 |
$3,980Lowest 34% below MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
57.3%±21.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Lee and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
7.2%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
71.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1959Lowest 5 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
18 minLowest 38% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16.4%±7.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Mansfield 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Lee | Berlin-Boylston | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Lee Middle/High School | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
9.2Lowest |
— | 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.