Compare towns
Stow vs Reading 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
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 | Reading | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165Lowest |
25,612Highest |
20,077 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+5.4% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
43.7±2.3 9% above MA |
42.9±1.7Lowest 7% above MA |
| Stow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
22.8%±2.2Highest MA: 19.4% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
| Reading 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 MA: 17.9% |
20.7%±2.3Highest MA: 17.9% |
20.1%±2.3 MA: 17.9% |
| Reading 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% |
66.3% MA: 47.3% |
46.1%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±0.7Lowest MA: 7.9% |
4%±1Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 79% above MA |
$165,912±$13k 60% above MA |
$103,400±$13kLowest about the MA average |
| Stow and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39k 30% above MA |
$809,000±$22kHighest 44% above MA |
$496,800±$22kLowest 12% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126 about the MA average |
$1,991±$273Highest 13% above MA |
$1,406±$82Lowest 20% below MA |
| Reading 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 |
$9,320 56% above MA |
$6,892Lowest 15% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
27.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
40.8%±8.7 MA: 51.8% |
| 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% MA: 10% |
3.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
5.3%Highest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
82.4% MA: 62.5% |
73.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 10 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1970 6 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 23% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
31 minLowest 6% above MA |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
30.2%±4.1 MA: 18.6% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Reading 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 | #50 of 282 in MA | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Reading | Hudson |
| High school in town | None in town | Reading Memorial High | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.