Compare towns
Mansfield vs Beverly vs Dedham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Beverly has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Dedham has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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 | Mansfield | Beverly | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
20,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8Lowest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 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+ | 15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.4%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Dedham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226 21% above MA |
$6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Beverly 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 | #60 of 282 in MA | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Beverly | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Beverly High | Dedham High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
12.2Highest |
10.4 |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.