Compare towns
Mansfield vs Mendon 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 youngest population (median age 41.4).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Mendon | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
6,325Lowest |
25,237Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% MA: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
44.6±1.6Highest 12% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Dedham and Mendon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±6.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Mendon and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.4%±2 MA: 17.9% |
14.7%±3.4Lowest 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% |
46.9% 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% |
6.8%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Mendon and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
$132,256±$33kHighest 27% above MA |
$128,955±$10k 24% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Mendon and Dedham 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 |
$616,000±$37k 10% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Dedham and Mendon 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 |
$1,840±$196 4% above MA |
$2,042±$182Highest 16% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Dedham and Mendon 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 |
$7,213 20% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
78.7%±26Highest MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Mendon and Dedham 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% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 16 yrs newer than MA |
1985Highest 21 yrs newer 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 4% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
15.1%±5.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 282 in MA | #210 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Mendon-Upton | Dedham | Hudson |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | None in town | Dedham High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.4 |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.