Compare towns
Hudson vs Salem 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).
Salem has the most renters (50.3% rent).
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 | Salem | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,077 |
44,795Highest |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+7.6% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7 7% above MA |
39.3±1.5Lowest about the MA average |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
| Stow and Hudson 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% |
15.7%±1.7Lowest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.2%±1.7Lowest 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% |
47.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
8.2%±1.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,400±$13k about the MA average |
$85,153±$5kLowest 18% below MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$542,800±$18k 3% below MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,836±$84Highest 4% above MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Salem and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,892 15% above MA |
$6,114Lowest about the MA average |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
54.9%±4.8 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% MA: 10% |
12.1%Highest MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2% MA: 62.5% |
49.7%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 6% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
21.6%±2.5 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #224 of 282 in MA | #248 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Salem | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Salem High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.