Compare towns
Hudson vs Hampton Falls vs Stow vs Amesbury
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 affordable homes ($497k median).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Hampton Falls | Stow | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
2,328Lowest |
7,165 |
17,403 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Stow and Amesbury 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% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury 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. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| Stow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Stow 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Hampton Falls School District | Nashoba | Amesbury |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | — | 10.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.