Compare towns
Hudson vs Beverly vs Dedham vs Berlin
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 most affordable homes ($497k median).
Beverly has the most renters (39.9% rent).
Dedham has the highest household income ($129k).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Beverly | Dedham | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
42,665Highest |
25,237 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39±1.8Lowest about the MA average |
44.6±1.6 12% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
18.5%±1.8 MA: 19.4% |
18.6%±1.9 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Dedham 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% |
19.4%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
53.4% MA: 47.3% |
55%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
11.3%±0.8Highest MA: 7.9% |
5.6%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$106,044±$7k about the MA average |
$128,955±$10kHighest 24% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Dedham and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$650,300±$13k 16% above MA |
$661,800±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,771±$106 about the MA average |
$2,042±$182 16% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Dedham 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 |
$6,836Lowest 14% above MA |
$7,918Highest 32% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.5%±7.2 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±10Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Dedham and Beverly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.6% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
60.1%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1956Lowest 8 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
30 min 3% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.3%±2.4 MA: 18.6% |
20%±2.7 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Beverly 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 | #144 of 282 in MA | #119 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Beverly | Dedham | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Beverly High | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.2Highest |
10.4 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.