Compare towns
Stow vs Ogunquit vs Topsfield 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Topsfield has the most kids (24.8% under 18).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($497k 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 | Ogunquit | Topsfield | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
1,379Lowest |
6,564 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Stow 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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±$22k 130% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16kHighest 142% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Topsfield and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40k 157% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
— | $1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Topsfield 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 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 |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | — | Topsfield | Hudson |
| High school in town | None 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 | 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.