Compare towns
Hudson vs Berlin vs Amesbury vs Auburn
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Auburn has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Hudson | Berlin | Amesbury | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
3,378Lowest |
17,403 |
16,970 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— | +4.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
44.8±1.6 12% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4 MA: 19.4% |
21%±2.3Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Auburn and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.9%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
45.4% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Auburn and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
$116,711±$10k 12% above MA |
| Berlin and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
$400,000±$16kLowest 29% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
$1,467±$155 17% below MA |
| Berlin and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
$5,289Lowest 12% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
51.4%±10.5 MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
79.6%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
26 minLowest 12% below MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8 MA: 18.6% |
14.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA | #106 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Berlin-Boylston | Amesbury | Auburn |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Amesbury High | Auburn Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 10.9 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.