Compare towns

Hudson vs Mansfield vs Norton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.

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).
Norton has the most homeowners (83.8%).

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.

MeasureHudsonMansfieldNorton
People
Population
20,077
23,931Highest
19,240Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%
MA: +7.4%
+0.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.7Highest
7% above MA
41.4±1.3
4% above MA
39.6±1.2Lowest
about the MA average
Hudson and Mansfield 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%
22.4%±2.4Highest
MA: 19.4%
17.3%±2.3Lowest
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%±2.3Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
17.4%±1.9
MA: 17.9%
Hudson and Norton 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%
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
45.8%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3
MA: 7.9%
12.9%±1Highest
MA: 7.9%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$103,400±$13kLowest
about the MA average
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
$124,535±$11k
20% above MA
Mansfield and Norton 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
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$501,400±$27k
11% below MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$82Lowest
20% below MA
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
$1,911±$375Highest
8% above MA
Norton 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
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$5,929Lowest
about the MA average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.8%±8.7
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
46.6%±8.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Norton 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%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%
MA: 62.5%
73.1%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
83.8%Highest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1980
16 yrs newer than MA
1982Highest
18 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
6% above MA
33 minHighest
13% above MA
33 min
12% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
19%±3.2Lowest
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 #60 of 282 in MA #173 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson Mansfield Norton
High school in town Hudson High Mansfield High Norton High
Students per teacherat that high school
10.2Lowest
11.1Highest
10.9
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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.