Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers vs Berlin vs Amesbury
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).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
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 | Danvers | Berlin | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
28,098Highest |
3,378Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
17.2%±2 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Amesbury and Hudson 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% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Danvers are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Amesbury 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 |
$125,395±$10kHighest 21% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$103,554±$12k about the MA average |
| Danvers 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 |
$644,200±$23kHighest 15% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$519,300±$32k 8% below MA |
| Danvers and Berlin 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 |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,683±$115 4% below MA |
| Berlin and Danvers 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 |
$6,654Lowest 11% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest 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% |
4.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
7.1%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #91 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Berlin-Boylston | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | 10.9 |
| 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.