Compare towns
Hudson vs Epping 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Epping | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
7,430 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Epping 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest 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+ | 20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Epping 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 28% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Stow and Epping 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. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Stow 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Epping School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.