Compare towns
Stow vs Plainfield vs Maynard vs Hudson
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).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($309k median).
Maynard has the oldest housing (typical home built 1963).
Hudson has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Plainfield | Maynard | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,165 |
616Lowest |
10,712 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.3%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 10% above MA |
50.6±9.5Highest 27% above MA |
45.3±4.3 13% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Plainfield and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest MA: 19.4% |
19%±9.3 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5 MA: 19.4% |
| 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 MA: 17.9% |
29.5%±7.1Highest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainfield 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 MA: 47.3% |
52.6% MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
5.4%±2.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainfield 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 |
$63,500±$14kLowest 39% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$103,400±$13k about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$309,000±$47kLowest 45% below MA |
$527,400±$31k 6% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,292±$558Lowest 27% below MA |
$1,800±$148Highest about the MA average |
$1,406±$82 20% below MA |
| 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 67% above MA |
$4,458Lowest 26% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
40%±100Lowest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
16.9%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% MA: 62.5% |
98%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1963Lowest 1 yr older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 23% above MA |
38 minHighest 30% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
26.2%±8.8 MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Plainfield 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 | — | #166 of 282 in MA | #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 | 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.