Compare towns
Stow vs Webster 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 the most people working from home (36.6%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Hudson has the most renters (26.8% rent).
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 | Webster | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,165 |
2,227Lowest |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
44.7±7.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Webster and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hudson and Webster 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$107,171±$14k 33% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
$338,500±$30kLowest about the U.S. average |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,782±$126Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,396±$622Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,406±$82 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,021Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.7%±44.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.6%±71 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stow and Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 16% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 282 in MA | — | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Nashoba | Merrimack Valley 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.