Compare towns
Hudson vs Merrimac vs Newburyport
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 youngest population (median age 42.9).
Merrimac has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Newburyport has the most expensive homes ($834k 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 | Merrimac | Newburyport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
6,748Lowest |
18,652 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.4±6.8 24% above MA |
49.8±2.9Highest 25% above MA |
| Newburyport and Merrimac are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.5%±6.2Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.9%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Newburyport 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% |
26.7%±5.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
24.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
| Merrimac and Newburyport 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% |
67%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
2.1%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Hudson and Newburyport 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±$16k 18% above MA |
$139,625±$21kHighest 34% above MA |
| Newburyport and Merrimac 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 |
$834,000±$37kHighest 48% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,352±$325Lowest 23% below MA |
$1,592±$221Highest 10% below MA |
| Newburyport 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 |
$7,399 23% above MA |
$7,944Highest 33% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.3%±29.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
46.4%±9.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Merrimac and Newburyport 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% |
77.5% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1982Highest 18 yrs newer than MA |
1954Lowest 10 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 minHighest 10% above MA |
32 min 8% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±3.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
28.9%±4Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #188 of 282 in MA | #56 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Pentucket | Newburyport |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Newburyport High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| 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.