Compare towns
Berlin vs Hudson vs Merrimac
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%).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Hudson | Merrimac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,077Highest |
6,748 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Merrimac 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% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Hudson 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 |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
| Merrimac 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±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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 |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hudson | Pentucket |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.