Compare towns
Berlin vs Hudson vs Ware
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).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
20,077Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.7 8% above MA |
| Berlin and Ware 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% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
24%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Ware 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 17% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$67,475±$15kLowest 35% 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±$22k 12% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109Lowest 41% 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 | $7,116Highest 19% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Hudson | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.