Compare towns
Stow vs Meredith vs Maynard 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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
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 | Meredith | Maynard | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
6,758Lowest |
10,712 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±4.3 16% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.3 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%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 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. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$124,067±$16k 54% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kLowest 44% above U.S. |
$527,400±$31k 59% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,800±$148Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| Maynard 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. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$8,266 165% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Meredith 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% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±7.7 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #166 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Maynard | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Maynard High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
10.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.