Compare towns
Berlin vs Freeport 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%).
Freeport has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Berlin | Freeport | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
8,802 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.8±4.3 25% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Freeport 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% |
26.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.6%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%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Freeport 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±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$107,326±$19k 33% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
$508,400±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,439±$123 about the U.S. average |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Berlin and Freeport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
$5,042Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
62%±18.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Freeport and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Freeport 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 | #4 of 133 in ME | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | RSU 05 | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Freeport High School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.