Compare towns
Hudson vs Nelson vs Plainville vs Mansfield
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 the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k median).
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 | Nelson | Plainville | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
648Lowest |
9,943 |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7 9% above U.S. |
43.2±3.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±2.4 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% |
24.8%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Nelson and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Mansfield and Plainville 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. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$104,106±$13k 29% above U.S. |
$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S. |
| Mansfield and Plainville 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. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
$476,000±$35k 43% above U.S. |
$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,977±$197Highest 40% above U.S. |
$1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
| Plainville and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 121% above U.S. |
$5,575 79% above U.S. |
$5,329Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$7,226Highest 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.8%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plainville and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | — | #102 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Nelson School District | Plainville | Mansfield |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.