Compare towns
Berlin vs Bow 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
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
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 | Berlin | Bow | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,335 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 128% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Bow 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #26 of 120 in NH | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Bow School District | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.