Compare towns
Hudson vs Epping vs Berlin vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
Bolton has the highest household income ($205k).
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 | Epping | Berlin | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
7,430 |
3,378Lowest |
5,737 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+15.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
41.2±1.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bolton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Epping 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% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 28% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$205,449±$31kHighest 154% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$796,000±$49kHighest 139% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,583±$1k 12% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
12.7%±45.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
40.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bolton and Berlin 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #61 of 282 in MA | #28 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Epping School District | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Epping High School | None in town | Nashoba Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
9.3Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.