Compare towns
Hudson vs Lancaster vs Upton 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 renters (26.8% rent).
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
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 | Lancaster | Upton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
8,606 |
8,189 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% MA: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
43.1±4.9 8% above MA |
46.4±4.8Highest 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
| Upton 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% |
19.2%±4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Upton 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 MA: 17.9% |
19.9%±4.2 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±4.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
| Upton 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 MA: 47.3% |
50.3% MA: 47.3% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3%±1.8 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
| Hudson and Stow 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 |
$134,833±$27k 30% above MA |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Stow and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$519,100±$60k 8% below MA |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$2,338±$539Highest 33% above MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Lancaster 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 |
$7,235 21% above MA |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
68.3%±36.7Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Lancaster 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 MA: 10% |
1.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
3.2% MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.1% MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1971 7 yrs newer than MA |
1981Highest 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
33.6%±9.1 MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Lancaster 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #46 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Nashoba | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
— | 11.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.