Compare towns
Acton vs Hamilton vs Ogunquit vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has the most renters (25.1% rent).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stow has the highest household income ($186k).
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 | Acton | Hamilton | Ogunquit | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 24,155Highest |
7,600 |
1,379Lowest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.5±0.8 14% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $158,230±$14k 96% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $807,300±$20k 143% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36kLowest 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39k 119% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,794±$394 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,782±$126Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Acton and Hamilton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.7%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.7%±44.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 31% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 35.9%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stow 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 | #13 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | — | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.5Highest |
11.8Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.