Compare towns
Mansfield vs Reading vs Dedham vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Reading has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Hudson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
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 | Reading | Dedham | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,931 |
699Lowest |
25,237Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
| Reading and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dedham and Mansfield 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 55% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 28% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| Dedham and Mansfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,226 132% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$7,918Highest 154% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | — | #119 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | 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 |
U.S. 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.