Compare towns
Hudson vs Danvers vs West Newbury 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).
Danvers has the shortest commute (28 min average).
West Newbury has the highest household income ($180k).
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 | Danvers | West Newbury | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
28,098Highest |
4,591 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
45.3±3 13% above MA |
49.5±3 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and West Newbury 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% |
19.6%±3.9Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| West Newbury 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 MA: 17.9% |
22.6%±2.2 MA: 17.9% |
21.3%±4.1 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest 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%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.4% MA: 47.3% |
64.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin and Hudson 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±$10k 21% above MA |
$179,500±$27kHighest 73% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$644,200±$23k 15% above MA |
$808,200±$47kHighest 44% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,076±$192 18% above MA |
$1,675±$674 5% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above 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 |
$9,240Highest 54% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
48.8%±8.6 MA: 51.8% |
80.4%±100Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| West Newbury and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
4.8% MA: 10% |
1.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
95.8%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1983 19 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 8% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
24.5%±6.2 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and West Newbury 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 | #86 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Pentucket | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Pentucket Regional Sr High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.6 |
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| 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.