Compare towns
Auburn vs Berlin vs Danvers vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Auburn | Berlin | Danvers | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,970 |
3,378Lowest |
28,098Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Danvers and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Danvers and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,467±$155 17% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 12% below MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 14.1%±2.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin 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 | #106 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Auburn | Berlin-Boylston | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hudson |
| High school in town | Auburn Senior High | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 12.8Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.