Compare towns

Hudson vs Plainville vs Mansfield

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 oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
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.

MeasureHudsonPlainvilleMansfield
People
Population
20,077
9,943Lowest
23,931Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
+20.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±1.7
7% above MA
43.2±3.6Highest
8% above MA
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
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
MA: 19.4%
18.3%±4Lowest
MA: 19.4%
22.4%±2.4Highest
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%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
22.2%±3.8Highest
MA: 17.9%
15.4%±2Lowest
MA: 17.9%
Plainville and Hudson 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%
44.4%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.3%±2.1
MA: 7.9%
5.5%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
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±$13kLowest
about the MA average
$104,106±$13k
about the MA average
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
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
12% below MA
$476,000±$35kLowest
15% below MA
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,406±$82Lowest
20% below MA
$1,977±$197Highest
12% above MA
$1,803±$147
about the MA average
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
15% above MA
$5,329Lowest
11% below MA
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
40.8%±8.7
MA: 51.8%
53.8%±13.6Highest
MA: 51.8%
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
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%
MA: 10%
7.4%Highest
MA: 10%
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
70.4%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1970Lowest
6 yrs newer than MA
1978
14 yrs newer than MA
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 min
6% above MA
29 minLowest
about the MA average
33 minHighest
13% above MA
Work from home
19.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
17.9%±4.7Lowest
MA: 18.6%
20%±3.4Highest
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 #102 of 282 in MA #60 of 282 in MA
School district Hudson Plainville Mansfield
High school in town Hudson High 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

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.