Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hamilton vs Hooksett 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
Boxborough has the most renters (26.6% rent).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Stow has the most people working from home (36.6%).
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 | Hamilton | Hooksett | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
7,600 |
15,057Highest |
7,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±4.4Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Stow 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 U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hamilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35k 79% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$185,809±$22kHighest 130% above U.S. |
| Stow and Boxborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 112% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% 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 | $1,887±$173Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,794±$394 27% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,782±$126 26% above U.S. |
| Boxborough 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.8%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.8%±23.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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 | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest 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 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #44 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | Hooksett School District | Nashoba |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8 |
— | — |
| 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.