Compare towns
Hudson vs Upton vs Stow vs Berlin
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).
Upton has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Berlin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
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 | Upton | Stow | Berlin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,077Highest |
8,189 |
7,165 |
3,378Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.1% MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
46.4±4.8 16% above MA |
44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
49.7±2.8Highest 24% above MA |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
13.4%±4.5Lowest 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% |
20.7%±4.9 MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
30.1%±5.9Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Berlin and Upton 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% |
53.5% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
48.3% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Berlin 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 about the MA average |
$155,508±$33k 50% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
$121,336±$12k 17% 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 |
$576,700±$41k about the MA average |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$616,600±$55k 10% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,406±$82 20% below MA |
$948±$599Lowest 46% below MA |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$2,420±$933Highest 37% above MA |
| Berlin 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 |
$8,376 40% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$7,116 19% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
52.8%±31 MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
52.6%±19.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.2% MA: 10% |
5% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
86.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
85.4% MA: 62.5% |
77.3% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1981 17 yrs newer than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1992Highest 28 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 22% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
34 min 17% above MA |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.8%±5.3 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
29.1%±6.8 MA: 18.6% |
| 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA | #61 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hudson | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Nashoba | Berlin-Boylston |
| High school in town | Hudson High | Blackstone Valley | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.2Lowest |
11.2Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.