Compare towns
Acton vs Hudson vs Ogunquit vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Acton | Hudson | Ogunquit | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
20,077 |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Acton and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hudson | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hudson High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
10.2Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.