Compare towns
Hudson vs Needham vs Sutton 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 renters (26.8% rent).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Sutton has the most homeowners (89.7%).
Berlin has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Needham | Sutton | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
32,459Highest |
9,452 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±1.6 8% above MA |
44.3±2.5 11% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
27.5%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.6%±3.3 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.8%±3.2 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
81.9%Highest MA: 47.3% |
52.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Needham 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 about the MA average |
$214,308±$13kHighest 106% above MA |
$147,125±$25k 42% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 111% above MA |
$523,100±$47k 7% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$2,409±$183 37% above MA |
$1,190±$401Lowest 32% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,763Lowest 13% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
55.9%±8.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
47.5%±24.4 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Needham 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% |
3.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.8%Highest MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
83.1% MA: 62.5% |
89.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1965Lowest 1 yr newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
28 minLowest 5% below MA |
30 min about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
32.4%±2.4Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.7%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Needham 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | #105 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | — | Sutton | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | Sutton High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.