Compare towns
Hudson vs Brewer vs Berlin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Brewer | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
9,652 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 121% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #32 of 133 in ME | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Brewer Public Schools | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Brewer High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
14.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.