Compare towns
Hudson vs Mansfield vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Mansfield | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
23,931Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
| Hudson and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 49% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 121% above U.S. |
$7,226Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hudson and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hudson | Mansfield | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Mansfield High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.