Compare towns
Hudson vs Ogunquit vs Salem 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 kids (19.3% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Berlin has the highest household income ($121k).
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 | Ogunquit | Salem | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077 |
1,379Lowest |
44,795Highest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.7±2.8 28% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hudson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Berlin 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% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$542,800±$18k 63% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,836±$84 30% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 121% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,114 96% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #248 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | — | Salem | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | — | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
— | 9.8Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.