Compare towns
Hudson vs Stow vs Mansfield
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 ($473k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Mansfield has the youngest population (median age 41.4).
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 | Stow | Mansfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,719 |
7,165Lowest |
23,931Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
41.4±1.3Lowest 4% above MA |
| Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±2.6Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.4%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Mansfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.7Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
15.4%±2Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Hudson and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
51.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
5.5%±1.3Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Mansfield and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$125,273±$15k 21% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$603,500±$28k 7% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,803±$147Highest about the MA average |
| Mansfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,597Lowest 10% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,226 21% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.4%±8.5 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
38.2%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
4.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.1% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1980Highest 16 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 18.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
20%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #60 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Nashoba | Mansfield |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Mansfield High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.