Compare towns
Hudson vs Amherst 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
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
Amherst has the most homeowners (91.9%).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Amherst | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
11,861 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.9±3.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Amherst and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Amherst and Stow 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% |
20.2%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Amherst and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
65.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Amherst 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. |
$153,196±$10k 90% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$537,600±$30k 62% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,462±$256 3% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Stow and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
$9,773 213% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.4%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 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 | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±5.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
10.4Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.