Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
Berlin has the most people working from home (29.1%).
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 | Salem | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
44,795Highest |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
15.7%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
48.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5 MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$121,336±$12kHighest 17% above MA |
| Berlin and Hudson 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 |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$616,600±$55kHighest 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84 4% above MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| 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 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$7,116Highest 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
77.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Berlin and Salem 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 |
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| 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.