Compare towns

Mansfield vs Hudson vs Peabody

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 highest household income ($125k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Peabody has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.3%).

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.

MeasureMansfieldHudsonPeabody
People
Population
23,931
20,077Lowest
54,695Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.9%Lowest
MA: +7.4%
+5.4%
MA: +7.4%
+6.3%Highest
MA: +7.4%
Median age
41.4±1.3Lowest
4% above MA
42.9±1.7
7% above MA
45.3±2.4Highest
13% above MA
Peabody 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%
19.3%±2.5
MA: 19.4%
18.7%±1.8Lowest
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%
20.1%±2.3
MA: 17.9%
24.3%±1.7Highest
MA: 17.9%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
51.1%Highest
MA: 47.3%
46.1%
MA: 47.3%
35%Lowest
MA: 47.3%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±1.3Highest
MA: 7.9%
4%±1Lowest
MA: 7.9%
4.4%±0.8
MA: 7.9%
Mansfield and Peabody are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$125,273±$15kHighest
21% above MA
$103,400±$13k
about the MA average
$96,657±$4kLowest
7% 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
$603,500±$28kHighest
7% above MA
$496,800±$22kLowest
12% below MA
$596,200±$12k
6% above MA
Mansfield and Peabody 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
$1,406±$82Lowest
20% below MA
$1,950±$99Highest
11% above MA
Peabody and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,226Highest
21% above MA
$6,892
15% above MA
$5,065Lowest
15% below MA
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
38.2%±8.5Lowest
MA: 51.8%
40.8%±8.7
MA: 51.8%
58.3%±5.9Highest
MA: 51.8%
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
MA: 10%
5.3%
MA: 10%
7.7%Highest
MA: 10%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.1%
MA: 62.5%
73.2%Highest
MA: 62.5%
65.6%Lowest
MA: 62.5%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
16 yrs newer than MA
1970
6 yrs newer than MA
1966Lowest
2 yrs newer than MA
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
13% above MA
31 min
6% above MA
26 minLowest
11% below MA
Work from home
20%±3.4Highest
MA: 18.6%
19.6%±3.6
MA: 18.6%
10.3%±1.6Lowest
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 #60 of 282 in MA #224 of 282 in MA #228 of 282 in MA
School district Mansfield Hudson Peabody
High school in town Mansfield High Hudson High Peabody Veterans Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.1Highest
10.2Lowest
10.3
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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.