Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hamilton vs Hooksett vs Williamstown
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 highest household income ($145k).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Williamstown has the shortest commute (16 min average).
Williamstown is a college town. 28.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Williamstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
7,600 |
15,057Highest |
9,150 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6 10% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1Highest 12% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
37.5±6.9Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hamilton and Boxborough 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough 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%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williamstown and Hamilton 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% |
70.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
28.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $144,611±$35kHighest 79% above U.S. |
$129,833±$14k 61% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$106,650±$25kLowest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 112% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36kHighest 116% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$437,100±$39k 31% above U.S. |
| 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±$173Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,794±$394 27% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,584±$292Lowest 12% 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. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,290Lowest 70% 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% |
48.9%±15.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% 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. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
16 minLowest 39% below 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% |
27.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williamstown 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 | #45 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | Hooksett School District | Mount Greylock |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | None in town | Mt Greylock Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.8Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.