Compare towns
Hudson vs Berlin vs Hudson vs Stow
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 youngest population (median age 42.9).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Hudson has the most renters (32% rent).
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 | Hudson | Berlin | Hudson | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
3,378Lowest |
15,719 |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
43.8±2.6 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
17.8%±2.6 MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest 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+ | 20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
21.4%±2.7 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1% MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
43.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.8%±1.2 MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest 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 | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$121,336±$12k 17% above MA |
$90,524±$9kLowest 13% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
$473,300±$15kLowest 16% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
$1,397±$83Lowest 21% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Berlin and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
$6,597Lowest 10% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
40.4%±8.5Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest 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 | 5.3% MA: 10% |
5%Lowest MA: 10% |
6.3%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
68%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
1968Lowest 4 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
30 minLowest 4% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
18.3%±4.2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest 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 | #224 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Berlin-Boylston | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.