Compare towns
Stow vs Kennebunk 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 highest household income ($186k).
Kennebunk has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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 | Kennebunk | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
6,221Lowest |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
54.3±7.2Highest 40% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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% |
18.1%±4.2Lowest 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% |
30.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hudson and Stow 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. |
$95,169±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$452,800±$17kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,466±$261 4% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stow and Kennebunk 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. |
$4,771Lowest 53% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±10.2Highest 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 | #9 of 133 in ME | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.