Compare towns
Bath vs Hamilton 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
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Stow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).
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 | Bath | Hamilton | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Highest |
7,600 |
7,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4 13% above U.S. |
| Bath and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.3%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$729,600±$39kHighest 119% above U.S. |
| Stow and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,794±$394Highest 27% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Hamilton and Stow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest 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 | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1958 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Highest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
36.6%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #36 of 282 in MA | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Hamilton-Wenham | Nashoba |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| 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.