Compare towns
Stow vs Hudson vs Acton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k median).
Acton has the most expensive homes ($807k median).
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 | Hudson | Acton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
20,077 |
24,155Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
44.5±0.8Highest 11% above MA |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
23.2%±2.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Acton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
17.6%±1.7Lowest 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+ | 75.1% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
79.5%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
4.9%±1.2Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Acton 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 79% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
$158,230±$14k 52% above MA |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
$807,300±$20kHighest 44% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,986±$155Highest 13% above MA |
| Acton 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 67% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
47.7%±11.3 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
3.4%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
74.9% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
35 min 19% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
35.9%±4.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Acton 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 | #44 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA | #13 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Hudson | Acton-Boxborough |
| High school in town | None in town | Hudson High | Acton-Boxborough Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.2Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.