Compare towns
Stow vs Exeter vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | Stow | Exeter | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
16,151 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 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+ | 19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.