Compare towns
Hudson vs Newfields vs Berlin 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 affordable homes ($497k median).
Newfields has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Newfields | Berlin | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,378 |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
49.7±2.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.1%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Berlin 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,336±$12k 50% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22k 130% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Stow 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$616,600±$55k 85% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,420±$933Highest 71% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Berlin and Newfields 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. |
$7,116 128% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.6%±19.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 min 29% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.1%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Newfields School District | Berlin-Boylston | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.