Compare towns
Berlin vs Danvers vs Hatfield vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Danvers has the most renters (30.8% rent).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Hatfield | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
28,098Highest |
3,325Lowest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Hatfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
48.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hatfield 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 17% above MA |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$103,400±$13k 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 | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below 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 | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,406±$82 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 | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,654 11% above MA |
$4,930Lowest 18% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1967 3 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
28 min about the MA average |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #198 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Hatfield | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Smith Academy | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
6.1Lowest |
10.2 |
| 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.