Compare towns
Berlin vs Hudson vs Salem
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%).
Hudson has the most kids (19.3% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,077 |
44,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Salem 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%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
| 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 |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
| Berlin and Salem 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 |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Salem 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% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salem 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 | #248 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hudson | Salem |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Salem High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
| 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.