Compare towns
Stow vs Rye 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Rye | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
5,611Lowest |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Lowest 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%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Stow and Rye 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. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22kLowest 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Stow and Rye 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$6,892Lowest 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Rye 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% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 9% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stow and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Rye School District | 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 |
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.