Compare towns
Hudson vs Mansfield vs Salem
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).
Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Lowest |
23,931 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Salem 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% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| 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±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
| Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest 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% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Mansfield | Salem |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Mansfield High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.