Compare towns
Boxborough vs Harvard 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.2%).
Harvard has the most people working from home (44.8%).
Maynard has the most affordable homes ($527k median).
Hamilton has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Harvard | Maynard | Hamilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,496Lowest |
6,927 |
10,712Highest |
7,600 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+5.1% MA: +7.4% |
+6.3% MA: +7.4% |
-2.6%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.7±1.6Lowest 7% above MA |
44.1±4.7 10% above MA |
45.3±4.3Highest 13% above MA |
43.5±2.1 9% above MA |
| Maynard and Harvard 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% |
21.1%±4.5 MA: 19.4% |
16.9%±4.3Lowest MA: 19.4% |
24%±3.5Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Hamilton and Harvard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.2%±4.4Lowest MA: 17.9% |
16.3%±2.8 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% |
62%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% |
3.8%±1.5 MA: 7.9% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest MA: 7.9% |
6.7%±1.6Highest MA: 7.9% |
| 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 39% above MA |
$213,996±$24kHighest 106% above MA |
$124,067±$16kLowest 19% above MA |
$129,833±$14k 25% above MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $706,900±$72k 26% above MA |
$833,600±$54kHighest 48% above MA |
$527,400±$31kLowest 6% below MA |
$720,000±$36k 28% above MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,887±$173Highest 7% above MA |
$1,321±$424Lowest 25% below MA |
$1,800±$148 about the MA average |
$1,794±$394 about the MA average |
| Boxborough and Maynard 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 67% above MA |
$8,266Lowest 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% |
72.5%±51.5Highest MA: 51.8% |
44.9%±9.6Lowest MA: 51.8% |
65.8%±23.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Harvard and Hamilton 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% |
4.5% MA: 10% |
8.3%Highest MA: 10% |
7.8% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.4%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
89.4%Highest MA: 62.5% |
75% MA: 62.5% |
84.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 25 yrs newer than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
1963 1 yr older than MA |
1958Lowest 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 3% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 min 9% above MA |
32 minHighest 11% above MA |
| Work from home | 17.8%±6.9Lowest MA: 18.6% |
44.8%±6.1Highest MA: 18.6% |
22.9%±7.7 MA: 18.6% |
26.3%±5.1 MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 282 in MA | #12 of 282 in MA | #166 of 282 in MA | #36 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Acton-Boxborough | Harvard | Maynard | Hamilton-Wenham |
| High school in town | None in town | The Bromfield High School | Maynard High | Hamilton-Wenham Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.0 |
9.7Lowest |
11.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.