Compare towns
Hudson vs Dover 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 most affordable homes ($497k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($1340k median).
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 | Dover | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
5,930Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
44.9±2.3Highest 12% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Dover 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 MA: 19.4% |
26%±5.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Dover and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 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+ | 46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
84.8%Highest MA: 47.3% |
75.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
7.2%±2.7Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Dover 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±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$250,001Highest 140% above MA |
$185,809±$22k 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$1,340,300±$117kHighest 138% above MA |
$729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$2,917±$2kHighest 66% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Dover and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
20%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest 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 | 5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
2.7%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
97.9%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
34.2%±6.4 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Dover 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 | #1 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Dover · Dover-Sherborn | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Dover-Sherborn Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.