Compare towns
Boxborough vs Hamilton vs Ogunquit vs Essex
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1958).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Essex has the highest household income ($157k).
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 | Ogunquit | Essex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496 |
7,600Highest |
1,379Lowest |
3,701 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.5±2.1 12% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±3.4 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
24%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hamilton and Essex 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hamilton and Boxborough 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$157,147±$24kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Essex 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±$72kLowest 112% above U.S. |
$720,000±$36k 116% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$897,400±$59kHighest 170% above U.S. |
| Essex and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173 34% above U.S. |
$1,794±$394Lowest 27% above U.S. |
— | $1,964±$238Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Essex 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% 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% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.5%±23.1 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1958Lowest 22 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 | — | #93 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Hamilton-Wenham | — | Manchester Essex Regional |
| High school in town | None in town | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High | — | 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.