Compare towns
Hudson vs Lyme 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
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lyme | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Berlin and Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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 49% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Lyme 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Lyme 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,116 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Lyme 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Lyme School District | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — |
| 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.