Compare towns
Mansfield vs Salem vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
Bordering MansfieldNorton
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
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 | Salem | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,931 |
44,795Highest |
20,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
42.9±1.7Highest 7% above MA |
| Hudson and Mansfield 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest 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% |
17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $125,273±$15kHighest 21% above MA |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Salem 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 |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.1% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Mansfield | Salem | Hudson |
| High school in town | Mansfield High | Salem High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
9.8Lowest |
10.2 |
| 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.