Compare towns
Stow vs Plainville 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 most people working from home (36.6%).
Plainville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20.3%).
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 | Plainville | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
9,943 |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% MA: +7.4% |
+20.3%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.2±3.6 8% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Stow and Plainville 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% |
18.3%±4Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest MA: 17.9% |
22.2%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Plainville 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% |
44.4%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
46.1% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4.3%±2.1Highest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1 MA: 7.9% |
| Plainville 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 |
$104,106±$13k about the MA average |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
$476,000±$35kLowest 15% below MA |
$496,800±$22k 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,977±$197Highest 12% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Plainville 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 |
$5,329Lowest 11% below MA |
$6,892 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
53.8%±13.6 MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Stow and Plainville 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% |
7.4%Highest MA: 10% |
5.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
70.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
73.2% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
1978Highest 14 yrs newer than MA |
1970Lowest 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
29 minLowest about the MA average |
31 min 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
17.9%±4.7Lowest MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | #102 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Plainville | 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 Our Story | 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.