Compare towns
Berlin vs Hatfield vs Salisbury 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 the most people working from home (29.1%).
Hatfield has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
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 | Hatfield | Salisbury | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378 |
3,325Lowest |
5,656 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+15.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8 24% above MA |
46.8±5 17% above MA |
51±6.9Highest 28% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
14%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
12.3%±3.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Hatfield 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% |
23.3%±4.6 MA: 17.9% |
29.1%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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% |
48.5% MA: 47.3% |
50.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$89,005±$25kLowest 14% below MA |
$92,469±$7k 11% below MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$440,800±$26kLowest 22% below MA |
$465,900±$31k 17% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,267±$216Lowest 28% below MA |
$1,770±$444 about the MA average |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 |
$4,930 18% below MA |
$4,561Lowest 24% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
42.6%±11.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.8%±11.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Salisbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.9%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
74.6% MA: 62.5% |
65.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1967Lowest 3 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
20 minLowest 30% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
16%±6.3Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.7%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salisbury 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 | #198 of 282 in MA | #240 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hatfield | — | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Smith Academy | — | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 6.1Lowest |
— | 10.2Highest |
| 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.