Compare towns
Hudson vs Topsfield 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 affordable homes ($497k median).
Topsfield has the highest household income ($196k).
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 | Topsfield | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
6,564 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
42.2±1.8Lowest 6% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
24.8%±4.7Highest MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Topsfield 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% |
22.4%±3.8 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Topsfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
71.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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 |
$195,718±$16kHighest 88% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$853,400±$40kHighest 52% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$1,115±$538Lowest 37% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
41.9%±40.8 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Berlin and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
7.5%Highest MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
90.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1969Lowest 5 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 |
34 minHighest 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
29.4%±8.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| Topsfield 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 | #172 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Topsfield | 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 History | 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.