Compare towns
Berlin vs Maynard vs Stow vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
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 | Berlin | Maynard | Stow | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,378Lowest |
10,712 |
7,165 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Berlin and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.3% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 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 | $121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Berlin and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,116 19% above MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Lowest MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 17% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow 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 | #61 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Berlin-Boylston | Maynard | Nashoba | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Maynard High | None in town | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.7Lowest |
— | 10.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.