Compare towns
Hudson vs Webster 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 renters (26.8% rent).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
2,227Lowest |
3,378 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6 15% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster and Hudson 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% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 28% above U.S. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12kHighest 50% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$616,600±$55kHighest 85% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Hudson 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. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$7,116Highest 128% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berlin and Hudson 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 | — | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Merrimack Valley School District | 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 Our Story | 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.