Compare towns
Salem vs Mansfield vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).
Mansfield has the highest household income ($125k).
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 | Salem | Mansfield | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,795Highest |
23,931 |
20,077Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
41.4±1.3 4% above MA |
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 | 15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest 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+ | 17.2%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest 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+ | 47.8% MA: 47.3% |
51.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$125,273±$15kHighest 21% above 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 | $542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$603,500±$28kHighest 7% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,803±$147 about the MA average |
$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 | $6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,226Highest 21% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest about the MA average |
33 minHighest 13% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±2.5Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 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 | #248 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem | Mansfield | Hudson |
| High school in town | Salem High | Mansfield High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.8Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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.