Compare towns
Ayer vs Hamilton vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Ayer | Hamilton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645Highest |
7,600 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+8.9% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8Lowest about the MA average |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
44.1±4.4Highest 10% above MA |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
22.3%±4.1 MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
19.1%±3.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
75.1%Highest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kLowest about the MA average |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
$185,809±$22kHighest 79% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kLowest 17% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
$729,600±$39kHighest 30% above MA |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Lowest 20% below MA |
$1,794±$394Highest about the MA average |
$1,782±$126 about the MA average |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Lowest 16% below MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
59.7%±44.2 MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
5.2%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
85.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
1974 10 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 13% above MA |
32 minLowest 11% above MA |
36 minHighest 23% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
36.6%±6.2Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Stow and Hamilton 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
11.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | 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.