Compare towns
Hudson vs Merrimac 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 kids (19.3% under 18).
Merrimac has the most homeowners (81.3%).
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 | Merrimac | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
6,748 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Hudson and Merrimac 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% |
26.7%±5.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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% |
41%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$123,054±$16kHighest 18% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Merrimac 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 |
$553,400±$38k about the MA average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Merrimac 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 |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$7,399Highest 23% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac 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% |
9.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
81.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982 18 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 10% above MA |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest 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 | #188 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Pentucket | 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 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.