Compare towns

Epsom vs Hudson 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

Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k median).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).

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.

MeasureEpsomHudsonStow
People
Population
4,939Lowest
20,077Highest
7,165
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
47.1±3.4Highest
21% above U.S.
42.9±1.7Lowest
10% above U.S.
44.1±4.4
13% above U.S.
Epsom and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±4.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.3%±2.5
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.7%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.1%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Epsom and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
46.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.2%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Epsom and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,941±$13kLowest
21% above U.S.
$103,400±$13k
28% above U.S.
$185,809±$22kHighest
130% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$338,400±$19kLowest
about the U.S. average
$496,800±$22k
49% above U.S.
$729,600±$39kHighest
119% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,212±$437Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,406±$82
about the U.S. average
$1,782±$126Highest
26% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,210Lowest
99% above U.S.
$6,892
121% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
71.2%±19.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
40.8%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59.7%±44.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Epsom and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
73.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1970Lowest
10 yrs older than U.S.
1974
6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minLowest
17% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
13.1%±4.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.6%±3.6
U.S.: 15.1%
36.6%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #69 of 120 in NH #224 of 282 in MA #44 of 282 in MA
School district Epsom School District Hudson Nashoba
High school in town None in town Hudson High 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.