Compare towns
Berlin vs Hudson vs Needham
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 oldest population (median age 49.7).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,077 |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Needham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Needham and Berlin 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 | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hudson | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
11.9Highest |
| 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.