Compare towns
Berlin vs Wellesley 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Wellesley has the most expensive homes ($1583k median).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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 | Wellesley | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
30,347Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
37.1±2.2Lowest 7% below MA |
42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24.1%±2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
15.5%±1.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
89%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
18.3%±0.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$1,582,700±$49kHighest 182% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933 37% above MA |
$2,886±$360Highest 64% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Wellesley and Berlin 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.1%±8.2 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Wellesley are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% MA: 10% |
4%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
84.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1955Lowest 9 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 17% above MA |
27 minLowest 7% below MA |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
32%±2.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Wellesley 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 | #6 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | — | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
| 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.