Compare towns
Hudson vs Great Barrington 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 homeowners (73.2%).
Great Barrington has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Amesbury has the most expensive homes ($519k median).
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 | Great Barrington | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
7,202Lowest |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.7±4.2Highest 24% above MA |
43.7±1.7 9% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
14.9%±3.5Lowest 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% |
28.7%±4.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
49.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
44.8%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
10.8%±2.4Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.1%±1.3 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$84,132±$11kLowest 19% below MA |
$103,554±$12kHighest about the MA average |
| Amesbury 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 12% below MA |
$494,300±$61kLowest 12% below MA |
$519,300±$32kHighest 8% below MA |
| Amesbury and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,314±$239Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,683±$115Highest 4% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$5,935Lowest about the MA average |
$7,360Highest 23% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
60.9%±15.2 MA: 51.8% |
66.7%±10.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Amesbury and Great Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Lowest MA: 10% |
9.2%Highest MA: 10% |
7.1% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Highest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
68.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1969 5 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 6% above MA |
22 minLowest 25% below MA |
29 min about the MA average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
23.6%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Great Barrington 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 | #139 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Berkshire Hills | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Monument Mt Regional High | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
9.2Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.