Compare towns
Boxborough vs Everett vs Maynard vs Hamilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boxborough has the highest household income ($145k).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Hamilton has the most people working from home (26.3%).
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 | Boxborough | Everett | Maynard | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
50,045Highest |
10,712 |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% MA: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 7% above MA |
35.2±1.5Lowest 12% below MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Maynard and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 MA: 19.4% |
21.8%±2.1 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4 MA: 17.9% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest MA: 17.9% |
18.2%±3.3 MA: 17.9% |
21.9%±3.8Highest MA: 17.9% |
| Hamilton and Maynard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24.9%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
64.2% MA: 47.3% |
68.8% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 MA: 7.9% |
6.3%±0.9 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| Hamilton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kHighest 39% above MA |
$85,218±$7kLowest 18% below MA |
$124,067±$16k 19% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Boxborough and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$610,000±$23k 9% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$720,000±$36kHighest 28% above MA |
| Hamilton and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 7% above MA |
$2,076±$69Highest 18% above MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,794±$394Lowest about the MA average |
| Everett and Boxborough 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 67% above MA |
$4,880Lowest 19% below MA |
$8,266 38% above MA |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 MA: 51.8% |
56.4%±5.8 MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6Highest MA: 51.8% |
| Hamilton and Everett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest MA: 10% |
14.7%Highest MA: 10% |
8.3% MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4% MA: 62.5% |
37.2%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
84.7%Highest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1938Lowest 26 yrs older than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
35 minHighest 20% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 MA: 18.6% |
10.5%±2Lowest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
| Hamilton and Maynard 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 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Everett | Maynard | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | Everett High | Maynard High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.7Lowest |
11.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.