Compare towns
Hudson vs Plainville vs Dalton
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 people working from home (19.6%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
Dalton has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Plainville | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
9,943 |
6,256Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
49.7±5.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Dalton and Plainville 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.6%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Dalton and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
27.9%±5.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Dalton 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%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.4% MA: 47.3% |
44.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Plainville 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 about the MA average |
$104,106±$13kHighest about the MA average |
$79,438±$8kLowest 24% below MA |
| Plainville 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±$22kHighest 12% below MA |
$476,000±$35k 15% below MA |
$295,700±$26kLowest 47% below MA |
| Hudson and Plainville 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 |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$872±$70Lowest 51% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Highest 15% above MA |
$5,329 11% below MA |
$4,276Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
41.2%±19 MA: 51.8% |
| Plainville and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
70.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1957Lowest 7 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
22 minLowest 24% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7 MA: 18.6% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Hudson and Plainville 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 | #102 of 282 in MA | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Plainville | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 10.9Highest |
| 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.